SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Child Abuse

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of the care home abuse cases have been rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central database of cases, and 'care home abuse cases' do not form a separate category of offence. The information requested could be obtained only by examining every case file and would therefore incur disproportionate costs.
	Recently, ACPO undertook a study that concluded that between 1997 and 2000 the CPS rejected 79 per cent. of cases of institutional child abuse referred to it. Of the cases that were prosecuted, convictions were achieved in 83 per cent. of cases.

Fraud (Small Businesses)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance she has issued to the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of crimes involving fraud against small businesses.

Harriet Harman: In March this year, I arranged and attended a meeting between the CPS, the SFO and the Federation of Small Businesses.
	I have had discussions with colleagues in the DTI about the importance of tackling fraud against small business.
	In July of this year, the Home Office published their report on responses to their consultation on business crime.

Victims/Witnesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what targets were set by the CPS in 2002–03 on meeting the needs of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system, in co-operation with other criminal justice agencies; and what the performance results are of these targets.

Harriet Harman: Meeting the needs of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system, in co-operation with other criminal justice agencies was a specific Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) objective in 2002–03 and is set out in the 2002–03 CPS Annual Report.
	Two targets were set: firstly, to pay 100 per cent. of correctly completed witness expense claims within 10 days; and secondly, to increase to 94 per cent. the proportion of replies to complaints within 10 days.
	In respect of the first target, CPS performance improved compared with 2001–02. During 2002–03, 99.8 per cent. of witness expenses were paid within agreed timescales compared with 98.2 per cent. in 2001–02.
	The second target was not met, although CPS performance improved considerably compared with 2001–02. Timely replies were made in 89.2 per cent. of cases in 2002–03, compared with 81.9 per cent. of cases in 2001–02.

Victims/Witnesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Crown Prosection Service has taken to improve the service to (a) victims and (b) witnesses of crime.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is working to improve the service that victims and witnesses of crime receive. This includes working with the Home Office and other criminal justice system agencies in developing the Government's recently published national strategy to deliver improved services to victims and witnesses.
	The CPS has fully implemented the direct communication with victims initiative, whereby prosecutors provide reasons to victims for decisions to drop or substantially alter charges. A meeting to provide a further explanation should also be offered in cases involving death, child abuse, sexual offences, racial offences or offences with a homophobic element.
	In relation to vulnerable or intimidated witnesses, the CPS is continuing to work closely with the Home Office and others to implement measures recommended in the report Speaking up for Justice, given statutory force by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. In July 2002, video recorded statements became admissible as evidence in chief in crown court proceedings for children under 17 and for vulnerable adults. In the crown court, the provision to give evidence by way of TV link is also available to children, vulnerable adults and intimidated witnesses. The CPS undertook a comprehensive training programme to ensure that staff were fully aware of the issues raised by the new measures. By March 2003, over 1000 CPS staff had been trained.
	In relation to general victim and witness care, the CPS is working with ACPO and the Office for Public Service Reform on piloting a Victim and Witness Care Project that builds on the developing working relationship between the police and the CPS. Five pilot Areas (Gwent, North Wales, West Midlands, Essex and South Yorkshire) were established in July 2003. The pilot will run until March 2004.
	In all pilot Areas, police officers will undertake a needs assessment for all victims and witnesses. If criminal proceedings are commenced, dedicated witness care staff will manage delivery of information and support to witnesses throughout the life of a case.
	The CPS has also been conducting a public consultation on whether prosecutors should be permitted to conduct pre-trial interviews with prosecution witnesses in order to assess their reliability. The consultation period ended on 2 1 July 2003 and the report is due to be placed before the Attorney-General in the autumn of 2003.

Street Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps are being taken by the CPS to target street crime in each hot spot street crime area.

Harriet Harman: Since April 2002, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has worked in partnership with the police and the courts to target street crime in the 10 areas with the biggest robbery problem.
	As a result, levels of street crime in these 10 areas have been reduced by 17 per cent. and conviction rates have been improved.
	The CPS has played a central role by developing a premium service for street crime cases whereby experienced prosecutors get 'in early and stay late'. The elements of the premium service are:
	pre-charge advice to police to get the charge right first time;
	close working with police to improve file quality and timeliness;
	reduce the discontinuance rate of street crime cases;
	improve case progression in partnership with courts;
	monitoring ineffective and cracked trials; and
	provide extra care and attention to victims and witnesses.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of the CPS's area business managers were new appointments in 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: During the financial year 2002–03, 71 per cent. of Area Business Managers were new appointments.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases were dealt with by the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: In 2002–03 the Crown Prosecution Service dealt with cases in respect of 1,435,763 defendants in magistrates courts of which 125,709 proceeded to the Crown court. In 2001–02 the figures were 1,359,205 in magistrates courts, of which 115,014 proceeded to the Crown court.
	The magistrates court figures include some non-criminal proceedings and advice cases that may not have resulted in prosecution. Crown court figures include appeals and committals for sentence.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many defendants were prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown Court in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: In 2002–03 the Crown Prosecution Service prosecuted 1,362,312 defendants in magistrates courts, of which 94,546 proceeded to the Crown Court. The comparable figures for 2001–02 were 1,304,185 defendants prosecuted in magistrates courts, of which 84,335 proceeded to the Crown Court. These figures exclude non-criminal proceedings and advice cases, appeals and committals for sentence.
	The number of defendants prosecuted by the CPS rose over the two year period. In magistrates courts there was an increase of 58,127, or 4.5 per cent. In the Crown Court there was an increase of 10,211 defendants, or 12.1 per cent.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many (a) summary cases and (b) indictable or either way cases were received by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records showing the type of charge in cases received: rather the information is recorded when the case is eventually completed.
	In 2002–03 the Service dealt with 796,742 defendants in summary proceedings in magistrates courts, and 565,570 in either way and indictable only proceedings in the magistrates courts and the Crown court.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what change there has been in the volume of pre-charge advices provided to the police by the Crown Prosection Service since 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: Pending the implementation of the charging scheme in the Criminal Justice Bill, the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are establishing non-statutory arrangements (based on those which were piloted in 2002) which involve their working together more closely pre-charge. One element is the provision of early CPS advice through a duty prosecutor routinely stationed at busy police stations or charging centres. These arrangements, which in some Areas are still at the planning stage, should be in operation in all Areas by the end of the year. Prior to the charging pilot, advices sought by the police from most forces were usually limited to a few cases involving substantial legal difficulty. Frequently, advice was sought after charge when many of the issues were already decided and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) intervention would often involve a reversal of previous police decisions. In the charging pilot last year over 6,100 advices were sought by the police during the period of CPS attendance.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what the Crown Prosecution Service budget was for (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service resource budget was (a) £464 million for 2002–03 and (b) £402 million for 2001–02.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many additional lawyers the CPS employed in 2002–03

Harriet Harman: The number of lawyers in post has increased by 237 during the period from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, when the total stood at 2,267.

Crown Prosecution Service

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of CPS staff work in areas prosecuting or supporting the prosecution of offenders.

Harriet Harman: All staff in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are employed to ensure that the CPS can fulfil its statutory functions, namely prosecuting offenders. A table showing the percentage of staff working in different functional areas follows.
	
		
			 Functional area Percentage 
		
		
			 Areas 88.1 
			 HQ casework 2.6 
			 HQ policy 1.2 
			 Headquarters 4.3 
			 Service centres 3.8 
			 Total 100

Domestic Violence

Huw Edwards: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on guidance issued to the Crown Prosecution Service on the conduct of cases involving domestic violence.

Harriet Harman: Cases involving domestic violence are conducted in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service revised policy on prosecution of cases of domestic violence issued in November 2001. The policy focuses on the safety of the victim and children, while holding abusers accountable for their actions. The CPS is committed to supporting victims by, where appropriate, the use of special measures and, wherever possible, by constructing cases on the basis of evidence other than that of the victim.
	The CPS network of domestic violence co-ordinators facilitates implementation of the revised policy, assists in providing training and shares and promotes good practice and a consistency of approach across the 42 areas.

Iraq

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people in the Law Officers' department had a role in advice given on the legality of the continued occupation of Iraq.

Harriet Harman: There are two officials in the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers who assist in dealing with any questions of international law relating to Iraq. There is a longstanding convention, followed by successive governments, that neither the substance of Law Officers' advice, nor the fact that they have been consulted, is publicly disclosed. This is consistent with paragraphs 2 and 4(d) of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Criminal Justice Reform

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what new structures have been developed to manage delivery and reform of the CJS at national and local levels.

Harriet Harman: The Government established a National Criminal Justice Board and 42 Local Criminal Justice Boards following recommendations made by Lord Justice Auld in his review of the Criminal Courts and as part of a wider package of Criminal Justice reform announced in the White Paper "Justice for All".
	At a national level, a National Criminal Justice Board comprising CJS Ministers, senior officials from the Home Office, the CPS, the Department for Constitutional Affairs and senior representatives from the police and the judiciary, is responsible for supporting Local Boards in delivery of the PSA targets and for managing the Government's overall CJS reform programme.
	Through the Local Boards, chief officers from the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Probation Service, Prisons, Youth Offender Teams and the courts are working together locally to bring more offenders to justice and to improve public confidence in the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

Criminal Trials

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General how many criminal trials collapsed as a result of witnesses receiving payment from media organisations in each of the last 10 years.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) keeps a wide range of statistical information on matters pertaining to the prosecution of cases, as do the courts and other criminal justice agencies. Data is gathered by CPS on generic reasons leading to unsuccessful case outcomes but this does not extend to specific and unusual acts, such as a witness receiving payment from a media organisation.

Crown Court Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of cases in the Crown court resulted in a conviction in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: In 2001–02 the Crown Prosecution secured convictions in 73.3 per cent. of Crown court cases. This rose to 74.5 per cent. in 2002–03.

Crown Court Cases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of defendants who pleaded not guilty in the Crown court were convicted in 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: In 2002–03, the Crown Prosecution Service secured convictions in respect of 61.9 per cent. of all defendants who pleaded not guilty and whose cases proceeded to a contested hearing in the Crown court.

Magistrates Courts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what the discontinuance rate was in magistrates court cases in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Harriet Harman: Discontinuances—those cases in which a decision is made not to proceed before evidence is heard by the court—fell from 16.2 per cent. of all magistrates court cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service in magistrates courts in 2001–02 to 15.5 per cent. in 2002–03. These figures include cases in which the defendant was bound over without a trial being held.

Magistrates Courts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what percentage of prosecutions in the magistrates courts secured a conviction in 2002–03; and how many defendants pleaded or were found guilty.

Harriet Harman: In 2002–03 the Crown Prosecution Service secured convictions in 76.8 per cent. of all prosecutions in the magistrates courts. This figure comprised 811,583 guilty pleas and 166,909 verdicts of guilty after trial.

Vulnerable Adults (Video Evidence)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what definition is used of a vulnerable adult as it relates to the admissibility of video recorded statements as evidence in chief in Crown Court proceedings.

Harriet Harman: Chapter 1 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provides for a witness to be eligible as a vulnerable adult for assistance by the use of video recorded evidence if the court considers that the quality of the evidence given by the witness is likely to be diminished by reason of any of the following circumstances:
	(i) the witness suffers from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983; or
	(ii) otherwise has a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; or
	(iii) that the witness has a physical disability or is suffering from a physical disorder.
	The court will consider any views expressed by the witness pursuant to section 16 (4) of the Act.
	Once a witness is deemed eligible, then in relation to adult vulnerable witnesses, the court needs to be satisfied that the video will maximise the quality of their evidence.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Building Works

Vincent Cable: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what work is outstanding on (a) Norman Shaw North, (b) Norman Shaw South and (c) Portcullis House; and what the estimated completion date is.

Archy Kirkwood: No work is outstanding in Norman Shaw North other than routine maintenance.
	In Norman Shaw South the refurbishment contractor has defects liability until February 2004 and he will attend to any items as necessary. The design consultant has liability to resolve window closure details and an issue in connection with air conditioning design. Also, some minor alterations were requested by the Accommodation and Works Committee for execution this summer.
	In Portcullis House the water feature contractor is currently fulfilling his defects liability and the fenestration contractor has one item remaining from his defects schedule which is to be dealt with in September.

Parliamentary Ticket Office

Nigel Evans: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the Houses of Parliament ticket office has cost in each year since its construction.

Archy Kirkwood: During the period of the trial opening (2000 and 2001) of the summer line of route, tickets were on sale in Westminster Hall. Following the Houses' decision to put the arrangement on a permanent footing, and pending the outcome of discussions with Westminster City Council as the local planning authority and with English Heritage, a temporary facility on Abingdon Green was used as a ticket office in 2002. The cost was £53,500, of which the House of Commons share was £32,100.
	The permanent ticket office used this year for the first time has an estimated cost of £155,000 (the House of Commons share is £93,000). It will be dismantled and put into store during the winter and with due maintenance it is expected to be used each summer for at least 10 years. The annual cost will therefore be £15,500, of which the House of Commons' share will be £9,300.

Parliamentary Ticket Office

Vincent Cable: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of constructing the Houses of Parliament ticket office was; what the cost of storing the ticket office until 2004 will be; which company has been selected to store the ticket office until 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: The permanent ticket office used this year for the first time has an estimated cost of £155,000 (the House of Commons share is £93,000). It will be dismantled and put into store during the winter and with due maintenance it is expected to be used each summer for at least 10 years. The annual cost will therefore be £15,500, of which the House of Commons' share will be £9,300.
	Tenders are to be invited shortly for the dismantling, storage, maintenance and re-erection of the building for the next four years.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  what percentage of the paper collected for recycling was (a) recycled within the UK and (b) exported for recycling in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what percentage of paper collected for recycling was recycled in each of the last three years; and what steps he takes to ensure this happens.

Archy Kirkwood: The parliamentary waste management contractor mixes waste paper from all sources at his recycling plant and is not able separately to measure the weight from any one source which has gone to UK or overseas paper makers.
	All the paper collected for recycling in the Palace and the northern outbuildings has been recycled, unless there were any isolated incidents where the staff of the cleaning contractor misdirected sacks intended for recycling.

Recycling

Vincent Cable: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what items can be recycled by hon. and right hon. Members and their staff; and if he will make a statement.

Archy Kirkwood: Waste paper from Members' offices may be recycled by using the special bins provided and metals may be recycled by using the general office waste bins. Glass may be recycled by leaving it at the waste centres at Peers' Inner Court in the Palace and at 1 Canon Row.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Contingencies

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans there are for civil emergency exercises (a) in London and (b) elsewhere in the next 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: In London, the London Resilience Partnership of the emergency services, health services, local authorities, utilities and transport agencies have a continuous programme of training and exercises. These comprise tabletop exercises, live exercises and training events.
	Elsewhere, a nationwide rolling programme of exercises ensures that we have robust and well-practised contingency plans in place to respond to a whole range of civil emergency incidents. The main activity is carried out at the local and regional level by local authorities and the emergency services. These exercises are based on risk assessments which include natural, technological or man-made crises; for example, exercises cover key facilities such as airports, nuclear power stations and chemical complexes. It is complemented by a cross-governmental programme.
	Under the broader cross-governmental programme, on the counter-terrorist side, the Home Office carries out three major exercises per annum plus a number of smaller scale exercises. Other exercises cover the health service response and consequence management of CBRN-related emergencies.
	On non-terrorist disruptive challenges, future exercises include the testing of the response to oil pollution, civil nuclear emergency response, foot-and-mouth contingency testing, chemical spills, flood management and a fuel shortage and its impact on the food supply chain.
	The UK also plans to participate in exercises with international partners and fora.

Government Vehicles

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what arrangements there are for the disposal of (a) ministerial and (b) departmental vehicles; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average time is that ministerial cars have been kept in operational service; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Appointments

Mike Hall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what percentage of appointees to UK Government sponsored public bodies are (a) disabled people and (b) people with minority ethnic backgrounds.

Douglas Alexander: Further to my written statement on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 49WS, I would like to correct the figure given for the percentages of disabled public appointees to public bodies and those with a minority ethnic background. As at 31 March 2003, 5.3 per cent. of public appointments are held by people with a minority ethnic background and 3.1 per cent. by disabled people. Information about the public bodies sponsored by UK Government Departments, and those appointed to serve on them, is available in Public Bodies 2003, revised copies of which have been placed in the Library.

Public Appointments

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made by the Department in increasing the number of women seeking public appointments since May 2001.

Douglas Alexander: Each Government Department handles the public appointments process for the non-departmental public bodies for which it is responsible.
	I will shortly be publishing the annual report on increasing diversity in public appointments, which will contain a section for each department, on their activity, including progress to date against their individual targets for increasing diversity on the boards of the public bodies for which they are responsible. Copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Wherever possible, my Department encourages individuals from under-represented groups to apply for appointments by clear job descriptions and person specifications, which do not contain unnecessary requirements which might discourage or eliminate their applications.
	In addition, my Department actively seeks to identify suitable women candidates through approaches to the Women and Equality Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry and the Women's National Commission.
	The progress made by my department is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Total number of appointments Women (percentage) 
		
		
			 2001(1),(2) 103 32 
			 2002(1),(2) 101 34 
			 2003(2) 94 35 
		
	
	(1) For comparison excludes the Women's National Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission, which transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry in May 2002.
	(2) Information is collected as at 31 March.

E-Envoy

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to retain the post of e-Envoy after the termination of the contract of the present office holder.

Douglas Alexander: The e-Envoy's contract has not been terminated. The current contract runs to April 2004, and succession planning decisions will not be made until closer to that date.

TRANSPORT

Road Haulage Industry (Compensation Claims)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many claims for compensation were submitted to the French authorities after 1 January 1995 in respect of lorry blockades; and how many have been (a) paid in full, (b) paid in part and (c) not paid.

David Jamieson: Following the lengthy disruption in France in November 1996, the Department offered hauliers assistance in submitting compensation claims to the relevant French authorities. Some 1,200 claims were handled in this way. All claims arising from these lorry blockades have been processed by the French authorities, and payment agreed in the case of all claims eligible under French law. The French authorities dealt directly with the cases and claimants were under no obligation to inform the Department of the outcome of their cases. We are, therefore, unable to provide information about amounts of compensation paid or refused.

A12

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) dates and (b) areas over the last 10 years, that roadworks have taken place for more than two weeks' duration on the A12 between the M25 turnoff and Wivenhoe, Essex.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Stephen Hickey, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Hilary Chipping to Mr. Simon Burns, dated 15 September 2003
	I have been asked by David Jamieson, on behalf of our Acting Chief Executive Stephen Hickey, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about road works that have taken place on the A12 between the M25 turnoff and Wivenhoe, Essex.
	The table below provides information on road works since 1997 that have lasted longer than two weeks. I regret that we do not have details prior to 1997.
	
		
			 A12 section Timing 
		
		
			 Chelmsford Bypass October 1997 to February 1998 
			 Mountnessing Bypass January 1999 to February 1999 
			 Boreham Bypass December 1999 to March 2000 
			 Brentwood Bypass Phase 1 January 2001 to May 2001 
			 Hatfteld Peverel Bypass October 2001 to February 2002 
			 Brentwood Bypass Phase 2 October 2002 to March 2003 
			 Witham Bypass August 2003 to December 2003 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

A27

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A27 through Worthing will have been improved or replaced.

David Jamieson: A number of small-scale improvements to ease congestion and improve safety are planned to be implemented by late 2004. In the longer term, following the Secretary of State's announcement on 9 July 2003, the Highways Agency has been asked to work with local authorities and statutory environmental bodies to identify schemes that are less damaging than those recommended by the South Coast Multi-Modal Study and reduce the need for major road construction. The Highways Agency are expected to report back in the middle of 2004, which will enable a decision on the way forward.

A38

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents have occurred on the A38 in Devon between Marsh Mills roundabout, Plymouth and Ivybridge in the past five years.

David Jamieson: There have been a total of five fatal accidents on the A38 in Devon between Marsh Mills roundabout, Plymouth and Ivybridge, in the past five years. There were two fatal accidents in 2001 and three fatal accidents in 2002.

Air Transport

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to prevent airlines from intentionally overbooking flights; if he will issue guidance to airline companies on appropriate (a) levels of compensation and (b) alternative arrangements for passengers unable to board flights they booked; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Overbooking is an accepted practice among full-service scheduled airlines. On any particular flight there is likely to be a proportion of passengers, mainly from those holding flexible tickets, who do not check in. On the basis of statistical evidence from previous flights, airlines estimate the probable number of no-shows and overbook accordingly. On the great majority of flights no passengers are denied boarding, and by reducing the number of empty seats overbooking keeps fares lower than they would otherwise be. This practice is widely accepted by passenger organisations and by regulators as being in the best interests of consumers generally.
	In the comparatively small proportion of cases where denied boarding occurs, existing Community legislation requires Community air carriers to provide prescribed minimum levels of financial compensation, in addition to offering passengers a choice between re-routing and reimbursement. In December 2001 the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation to increase levels of compensation to passengers denied boarding, as well as to require the provision of assistance to travellers affected by cancellations for commercial reasons or delays. Political agreement on this proposal was reached at Transport Council in December 2002, and it is currently subject to conciliation procedures involving the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission.

Air Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to require signs at airports which are in English to carry equivalent information in other major European languages.

Tony McNulty: The International Civil Aviation Organisation recommend that, as far as possible, symbols alone should be used without words and that, where words are found to be essential, the choice of languages should be determined having regard to the particular needs of air travellers and the general public. We consider that airport operators are best placed to judge whether any language other than English would be beneficial in conjunction with particular signs, and that it is not necessary or desirable to impose requirements on them in this respect.

Air Transport

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the revenues of airports at (a) Luton, (b) Heathrow, (c) Gatwick and (d) Stansted derive from parking charges.

Kim Howells: In the case of Luton Airport, in the fiscal year to 31 March 2003 the proportion of car park revenue to total revenue was 21 per cent. For Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the proportions were, respectively, 6 per cent., 9 per cent., and 20 per cent.

Air Transport

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) pilots and (b) cabin crew have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Based on an analysis of cases of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) between 1990 and 2000, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) estimates that there is an incidence in pilots of 0.2 per 1,000 per year. The annual incidence for the northern European population as a whole is 1.6–1.8 per 1,000 per year. Records are not kept by the CAA on the health of cabin crew as this group, unlike professional pilots, are not required to have routine regulatory medical examinations.

Air Transport

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to implement a public awareness campaign on the risks of travel-related deep vein thrombosis;
	(2)  what advice is available to British air travellers on travel health, with particular reference to measures to prevent travel-related deep vein thrombosis; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Advice on health and travel is widely available to the public in the Department of Health's 'Health advice for Travellers' booklet. The Government issued specific advice on travel-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in 2001, which has been made available to the public through NHS Direct, the internet, the airlines and health services. All UK long-haul carriers have produced information for their passengers, in pamphlets, videos or announcements, incorporating material contained in the Government's advice.
	The Department of Health has commissioned research, jointly funded with UK airlines, to evaluate the public perception of the risk of DVT and the awareness and use of information sources relating to DVT. One of the tasks of the new Aviation Health Unit that my Department is setting up within the Civil Aviation Authority will be to consider the results of this research as part of its remit to recommend and offer advice to air passengers and crew on aviation health issues.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the possible effects on the health of airport workers if an additional runway were to be built at Gatwick.

Kim Howells: Analysis of air quality impact of options included in the consultation "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom" is related to community exposure to ambient emission levels. This comparative analysis for strategic purposes is not intended to be exhaustive and no formal assessment has been made for the purposes of the White Paper. Airports, like other employers, are subject to Health and Safety requirements.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of (a) aircraft crossing runways, (b) wake vortices, (c) high ground, (d) turbulance from flying through a cutting and (e) proximity of the main railway line from building (i) one and (ii) two additional runways at Gatwick;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the risk of wake vortices from the building of a close parallel runway at Gatwick.

Kim Howells: All the factors you have mentioned have been appropriately taken into account in the development of the options presented in the consultation. The constraints imposed by each factor vary in relation to each option. For instance, wake vortices are less of a problem where there is greater distance between two runways (i.e. the wide spaced two runway option). In the close parallel option, their potential effects can restrict operations to the dependent segregated mode (resulting in reduced movement capacity).
	Further information is contained in the Optioneering report for Gatwick, Stansted and Southampton airports, which was included in the package of SERAS documents made available as part of the consultation (document reference numbers 51 and 66). Although this information relates to options which differ somewhat from those presented in the consultation document, the differences between the options are small in this respect. The information therefore remains valid.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of aircraft using the proposed new wide spaced runway at Gatwick would need to cross the existing runway to reach the terminal buildings.

Kim Howells: This information is not available. It would depend on the precise way in which the runways would be operated and the balance of aircraft parking space between and north of the runways.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact to the public safety zone related to the proposed new wide spaced runway at Gatwick would have on use of the main London to Brighton railway line.

Kim Howells: The impact of the Public Safety Zone (PSZ) for the proposed wide-spaced runway on the use of the London to Brighton railway line is likely to be small. The focus of PSZs is on the risks associated with residential property and places where people congregate for significant time. These risks are greater than for road and rail traffic passing through the zones as the time spent stationery is relatively short.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the high ground to the west would reduce the runway length available for take-offs in relation to the proposed new wide spaced runway at Gatwick.

Kim Howells: Information on how the high ground to the west of the airport would reduce the runway length for take-offs is given in the Optioneering report for Gatwick, Stansted and Southampton airports, and included in the package of SERAS documents made available as part of the consultation (document reference number 51). Page 25 of the report states that the TODA (take-off distance available) would be reduced to about 2,550m. Although this information relates to a slightly different runway location it should be regarded only as an estimate and, therefore, remains broadly valid.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of the alternative plans produced by BAA for a close parallel runway at Gatwick; and what asessment he has made of the additional environmental impact of these plans.

Kim Howells: As with all alternative options put forward during the consultation, we are considering these carefully.

Air Transport

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much earth would need to be removed to make the proposed new north runway at Gatwick level with the rest of the existing airport.

Kim Howells: This information is contained in the Optioneering report for Gatwick, Stansted and Southampton airports, and included in the package of SERAS documents made available as part of the consultation (document reference number 51). Page 28 of the report states that an estimated 18 million cubic metres of material would need to be removed to create a platform 1100 million wide. The corresponding draft layout plan for Gatwick with a possible new northern runway is shown in the associated document of figures, also available (document reference number 66, figure 4.4).

Freight Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail lines operated for freight purposes only, giving the mileage length of each line identified; and what assessment has been made of the potential use of each line for passenger traffic.

Tony McNulty: The information on the first two points is contained in Appendix D of the "Review of Freight Charging Policy: Consultation on Costs", published by the Office of the Rail Regulator in November 2000. A copy of this document is obtainable from the Office of the Rail Regulator.
	There is no systematic assessment of the potential use of freight only lines for passenger traffic. Proposals submitted by local stakeholders to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) are considered on a case by case basis, with each case being reviewed on its individual merits and against the SRA's planning criteria.

Freight Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in percentage terms the movement of freight within the United Kingdom by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) water for each year from 1996 to date.

David Jamieson: The information is in the following table.
	
		Percentage share of goods moved (tonne kilometres):United Kingdom
		
			  Road Rail(3) Water Pipeline All modes(4) 
		
		
			 1996 66 6 23 5 100 
			 1997 68 7 20 5 100 
			 1998 65 7 23 5 100 
			 1999 64 7 24 5 100 
			 2000 62 7 26 4 100 
			 2001 64 8 24 5 100 
		
	
	(3) Financial year figures.
	(4) Figures for some years may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Harbour Revision Orders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the laws regarding harbour revision orders; if he proposes to change them; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We have no current plans to change the legislation governing harbour revision orders although we are always willing to consider changes either suggested to us or that stem from our own experiences in processing them.

Public Transport

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he is making on the integration of public transport (a) timetables and (b) ticketing.

Tony McNulty: My Department continues to support the traveline service, which offers integrated, multi-modal public transport route and timetable information through a single national telephone number. The service is now also available on the internet.
	The Transport Direct service will launch in early 2004. It will provide route, timetable and fare information for all modes of public and private transport and provide for the purchase of tickets. Transport Direct will initially be provided through an internet portal and, ultimately, it is hoped that access will also be possible via digital TV, mobile and WAP phones, other handheld devices and high street kiosks.
	Work is also continuing to encourage the PlusBus ticketing scheme that allows the addition of bus validity to national rail tickets. There are currently 102 stations participating in the PlusBus scheme, with a further 33 expected by the end of September 2003. A significant number of additions are expected next year.

Road Deaths

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic accidents resulted in a fatality in Crosby in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: Information is not available on the number of fatal traffic accidents in Crosby.
	The number of traffic accidents that have resulted in one or more fatalities in the local authority district of Sefton, which includes Crosby, are given in the table.
	
		
			  Fatal Accidents 
		
		
			 1998 7 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 8 
			 2001 6 
			 2002 9

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations apply (a) within UK waters and (b) beyond the 12 mile limit, for the ship to ship transfer of oil and other chemicals.

David Jamieson: Regulations specific to ship to ship transfer operations within UK waters, remain in draft form as a Statutory Instrument and Merchant Shipping Notice at this time. No specific regulations apply beyond the 12 mile limit.

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency plans are in place for dealing with spillages within and beyond the 12 mile limit from ship to ship oil and chemical transfers in Lyme Bay; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Within the 12 mile limit of UK waters, transfers comply with draft legislation and include contingency planning for oil spills, mainly through the mechanism of Ship's Oil Pollution Emergency Plans (SOPEPS). Where cargoes being transferred are of a particularly persistent nature, appropriate oil recovery, collection and containment measures are also required in the form of a recovery vessel on stand-by throughout the operations.
	Beyond the 12 mile limit, but within the UK's Pollution Control Zone, which can stretch up to 200 miles off shore, pollution resulting from ship to ship transfers would be treated in the same way as marine pollution from any other source.
	Any Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) response would follow the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations and would be tailored to the circumstances of the incident.

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of oil and chemical spillage have been reported as a consequence of ship to ship transfers of oil and chemicals off the UK coast in each of the past five years.

David Jamieson: There have been no incidents of oil and chemical spills as a consequence of ship to ship transfer operations off the UK coastline in any of the past five years.

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ship to ship transfers of oil and chemicals took place off the UK coastline in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) broken down by Government office region.

David Jamieson: A break down of the number of ship to ship transfers off the UK coastline in the last five years is given in the table:
	
		
			 Year Total Broken down byGovernment office region 
		
		
			 1999 1 Scottish waters 
			 2000 1 South west 
			 2001 5 4 South west 
			   1 East 
			 2002 3 2 East 
			   1 South west 
			 2003 to date 5 3 South west 
			   2 East

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department monitors the ship to ship transfer of oil and chemicals off the UK coast.

David Jamieson: There are only two locations outside harbour limits and within UK waters where ship to ship transfers are allowed to take place, namely off Lyme Bay, Dorset and Southwold, Suffolk. The industry has accepted current draft regulations governing these transfers as a common standard.
	Agents for ship to ship transfers have to make an application to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) counter pollution branch at least 72 hours prior to the proposed transfer taking place. Permission for the transfer to proceed is only given after thorough assessment and may include limitations or specific requirements. Copies of the draft Statutory Instrument and Merchant Shipping Notice are supplied to the applicant for reference.

Shipping (Oil and Chemical Transfers)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department enforces regulations covering the ship to ship transfer of oil and chemicals off the UK coast (a) within the 12 mile limit and (b) beyond the 12 mile limit.

David Jamieson: The regulations governing ship to ship transfers are currently in draft form through Statutory Instrument, The Merchant Shipping (Ship to Ship Transfers) Regulations 1999 and Merchant Shipping Notice 1739, Ship to Ship Transfers of Dangerous or Polluting Cargoes at Sea. Although these regulations remain in draft form, industry has accepted them as good working practice and their contents are applied when assessing and vetting applications for ship to ship transfers within UK water.
	There are no regulations controlling ship to ship transfer activities beyond the 12 mile limit.

Thameslink 2000

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the future of the Thameslink 2000 project.

Tony McNulty: Progress on Thameslink 2000 is dependent on securing approval of the necessary planning and other powers under the Transport and Works Act. The Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail are currently working to address design deficiencies identified at public inquiry. If a viable and economic solution can be found, a revised proposal will be submitted for consideration in the TWA process.

Traffic Calming

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has held with each of the emergency services regarding traffic calming schemes; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My Department wrote to all local field operatives in the emergency services on 2 September 2003 encouraging them to work with local authorities whenever new traffic calming schemes are proposed. Similar letters were also sent to every local authority reminding them of the legal requirement to consult the emergency services wherever road humps are introduced. This letter also strongly urged local authorities to consult the emergency services when all other traffic calming measures are proposed.

Rail Performance Statistics

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the most recent rail performance indicators from train operating companies.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority publishes rail performance statistics in the quarterly National Rail Trends (NRT) and six-monthly On Track publications. Copies of both publications are placed in the Library of the House. The next edition of NRT will be published on 19 September 2003 and provide performance data for the quarter April to June 2003.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on NATO's leadership of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: Since 11 August 2003, NATO has given enhanced support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, including providing the Headquarters for the Force. NATO has made an excellent start in its new role and the Alliance is now looking at ways to make the ISAF still more effective.

Afghanistan

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on security operations in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Coalition operations against remnants of the Taliban and their terrorist supporters continue, especially in the South and East of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on military support for the government of Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 10.

Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aircraft will be used on the new aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The primary aircraft for the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) will be the Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Lockheed Martin F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). CVF will have the capacity to operate a wide range of aircraft including that selected to provide maritime airborne surveillance and control and helicopters in a wide variety of roles that could include anti-submarine warfare, attack, surveillance and support. As CVF will be built to an innovative and adaptable design, it will be capable of modification to operate future generations of air platforms, such as aircraft requiring a catapult launch and arrested recovery.

Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated conversion cost is for the Eurofighter Typhoon to operate from the new aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 20 May 2003, Official Report, column 678W.

British Army Training Unit Suffield

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the importance of the Canadian BATSU facility for the British Army.

Adam Ingram: The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) facility fulfils a valuable role in the training of units and formations to bring them to the required readiness state.

Campaign Medals

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the medal for those who served in the Suez Canal Zone between 1951 and 1954 will be available; and what arrangements have been made for its presentation.

Ivor Caplin: The four medal offices are preparing to issue medals to eligible veterans pending final agreement of the qualifying criteria. Stocks of the Naval General Service Medal 1915–62 and the General Service Medal 1918–62, their associated ribbons and the new clasp are being prepared by the medal offices in anticipation of that approval by Her Majesty. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the medal will be posted to the recipient.

Chatham Dockyard (Radiation Records)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Chatham Dockyard workers have received their radiation dose records.

Ivor Caplin: 241 workers have received radiation dose record summaries under the Ministry of Defence Radiation Workers Counselling Scheme.

Chatham Dockyard (Radiation Records)

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many former Chatham Dockyard workers have been given estimated radiation dose records.

Ivor Caplin: It was necessary to enter estimated external doses into the statutory records of those radiation workers likely to receive higher radiation doses (called classified persons) when the film badge issued to these workers was lost or damaged. In such circumstances an estimated dose was entered onto an individual's dose record by entering doses from direct reading dosimeters worn by the individual. On the rare occasions when no dosimeter information was available, a calculation was made based upon time of exposure and radiation dose rates in areas where the individual worked. Since these details were entered onto individual records and there was no requirement to record the number of such events centrally, the numbers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Compensation (Asbestosis)

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average compensation per person paid by his Department to claimants suffering from asbestosis was in each of the last three years.

Ivor Caplin: The amount paid in compensation and the associated legal costs of cases brought against the Ministry of Defence are not in general recorded separately and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The average amount paid in compensation and legal costs by the MOD to claimants suffering from asbestos related disease for the last three years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 35,556 
			 2002–02 26,644 
			 2002–03 36,233

Contracts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts issued by his Department in the last five years have included no UK build.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Contracts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that all contracts awarded by his Department include a provision that a minimum of 50 per cent. of the work will be carried out in the UK.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 January 2003, Official Report, columns 405–06W.

Service Personnel (Religious Faith)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces profess (a) Christianity, (b) Judaism, (c) Islam, (d) Hinduism and (e) other faiths; how many chaplains from each faith are attached to the forces; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The numbers of armed forces personnel with the following recorded religion are:
	
		
			 Religion Number 
		
		
			 Christianity 191,985 
			 Judaism 65 
			 Islam 280 
			 Hinduism 140 
			 Other 925 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to prevent disclosure of sensitive personal data and exclude those with no recorded or declared religion.
	There are 295 full-time commissioned chaplains in the armed forces, drawn from the main Christian denominations to which the majority of Service personnel belong. They have a responsibility to offer spiritual, moral and pastoral care to all Service personnel and their families, irrespective of religion or belief. The relatively small number of personnel from faiths other than Christianity, serving in a wide range of units and locations in the United Kingdom and overseas, does not at present justify the appointment of dedicated clergy from those faiths, but the position is kept under review. Leading members of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths have been appointed to act as religious advisers to the armed forces.

Iraq

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate the Department has made of (a) the number of Iraqi ammunition dumps and (b) the quantity of munitions in the British sector.

Adam Ingram: As of the 3 September, the following caches of munitions have been found in the United Kingdom Area of Operations:
	
		
			 Numberof caches Size Estimated quantity unexploded ordnance Types 
		
		
			 111 Small 500–1,000 Various 
			 61 ISO Container 1,000–5,000 Various 
			 8 Multiple ISO Container 5,000–10,000 Various 
			 9 Small Compound Over 10,000 Various 
			 8 Large Compound Over 100,000 Various

Iraq

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British casualties there were (a) during the conflict and (b) since the conflict in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: As of 9 September United Kingdom Forces had suffered 49 fatalities, 33 during the conflict and 16 since. One member of the Defence Fire Services had also died after the conflict ended.
	Fifty-three personnel had been wounded, 40 during the conflict and 13 since. We only record centrally the number of wounded who received hospital treatment. Those that received local treatment and then returned to duty are not recorded.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 17 July 2003, Official Report, column 484W, on Iraq (friendly fire incidents), if he will make the reports and recommendations of these investigations available to hon. Members and the public when inquiries are completed; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the internal Service inquiries being carried out into these incidents is to establish the facts; to discover whether any shortcomings in Service equipment or procedures caused or contributed to the incident; and, where necessary, to make recommendations to prevent a recurrence. To encourage witnesses to come forward freely and speak with the utmost candour, we do not publish reports in their entirety; this has been the policy of successive governments. The reports are, however, made available to HM Coroners to help them determine the cause and circumstances of death.
	I am prepared, however, to make a summary of the report's conclusions available to the House in this instance, but only after all other related proceedings such as disciplinary action are entirely complete. To do otherwise would be to risk prejudicing those other proceedings.

Iraq

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to retrieve and render safe cluster bombs and other munitions used by allied forces during the recent military action in Iraq; how much of this work will be carried out by non-governmental organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom and other Coalition Armed Forces and Non-Governmental Organisation teams have been engaged in Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks since before the end of the conflict in Iraq. This Unexploded Ordnance includes not only that fired or dropped by Coalition Forces, but also much from the Iraq-Iran war, as well as mines laid, ordnance fired or dropped, and stores of ammunition and other ordnance left by Iraqi military and paramilitary forces.
	In the UK's Area of Responsibility, 1,500 tasks involving the destruction of over 146,000 munitions have been completed.

Iraq

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many coalition forces (a) were killed in the Iraq conflict and (b) were injured in the conflict and are still receiving treatment; and how many of these were from friendly fire.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 September 2003
	As of 9 September 2003, 49 United Kingdom armed forces personnel and one member of the Defence Fire Service had died since the start of coalition military operations against Iraq. 39, all from the armed forces, were killed in action or subsequently died of wounds received and 11 died in non-battle accidents or from natural causes.
	Of the fatalities, three have been confirmed as being caused by 'friendly fire' and three others remain under investigation.
	We only record centrally the number of wounded who received hospital treatment. Those that received local treatment and returned to duty are not recorded. As of 9 September 2003, UK forces had suffered 53 wounded. We do not hold central records of how many remain under treatment.
	We do not hold data on the numbers of fatalities and casualties suffered by coalition partners.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent requests he has received from the United States Government for the use of British military facilities in respect of the military action in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence received a formal request on 18 November 2002 from the United States Government for assistance in any potential military action against the regime in Iraq. This was one of some 50 requests made by the US to a range of potential coalition partners. Subsequently, the Government have set out to Parliament the nature of their contribution to military action in Iraq on a number of occasions.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are deployed on operations in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: As at 1 September 2003 there were 2,453 reservists deployed on operations in Iraq.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much finance has been allocated to UK-funded operators responsible for cleaning UK unexploded ordnance used in the recent invasion of Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Providing a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people is a key aspect of restoration activity for the coalition. The responsibility for developing a programme for the removal of landmines rests with the Iraq Mine Action Centre (IMAC) and not the UK military. While the Ministry of Defence has not therefore allocated Defence funds to demining operators for the cleaning of UK unexploded ordnance, we have provided personnel to help the process. The UK and the Iraq Mine Action Centre are in the process of marking and documenting around 400 unexploded ordnance sites.
	The UK has made a significant effort to educate the local population in its area of operations about the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance. We have, with the support of UNICEF and the ICRC, developed a Theatre Mine Risk Education Programme.
	A poster and leaflet campaign continues and head teachers in Basrah have been briefed so that they can educate the children. In addition to this, local radio stations are informing the local population about unexploded ordnance and encouraging them not to tamper with anything that has either been marked as or may look like unexploded ordnance.

Iraq

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of recovering unexploded ordnance in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom and other coalition explosive ordnance disposal teams in the UK's area of responsibility have completed over 1,500 tasks and destroyed over 146,000 individual munitions. We do not record types of munitions destroyed. 197 caches or storage sites of unexploded ordnance (UXO) have already been identified:
	
		
			 Numberof caches Size Estimated quantity of unexploded ordnance Types 
		
		
			 111 Small 500–1,000 Various  
			 61 ISO container 1,000–5,000 Various  
			 8 Multiple ISO container 5,000–10,000 Various  
			 9 Small compound Over 10,000 Various  
			 8 Large compound Over 100,000 Various  
		
	
	A full survey of sites contaminated with unexploded munitions has been underway since June. The survey has been conducted in concert with other coalition forces, demining companies and with non-Government organisations.

Joint Intelligence Committee

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) secret and (b) top secret material produced by the Joint Intelligence Committee has been shown to any official in his Department who has not been cleared to see material at these levels of classification since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: The Ministry of Defence controls protectively marked material, including Top Secret and Secret material produced by the Joint Intelligence Committee: material is made available only to individuals who have been appropriately cleared and have a need to know the information. No incidents of unauthorised access to protectively marked Joint Intelligence Committee material by Ministry of Defence officials have been reported.

Military Personnel

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on releasing names of military service personnel to marketing companies.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not release names of military, or civilian personnel, to marketing companies.

NATO Scientific Programme

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Master of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge, on NATO's scientific programme; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Defence Ministers have not received representations from Professor Sir Brian Heap, Master of St. Edmund's College, Cambridge. Professor Heap has, however, corresponded with my colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with regard to NATO's scientific programme.

Overseas Deployments

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list current overseas deployments of Navy, Army and Air Force Institution (NAAFI) units; and how many staff are involved in each.

Ivor Caplin: Current Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) locations, and associated personnel numbers, outside the United Kingdom are as follows:
	
		
			 Country Staff numbers 
		
		
			 Germany 980 
			 Kuwait/Iraq 39 
			 Afghanistan 4 
			 Cyprus 3 
			 Kosovo 3 
			 Bosnia 3 
			 Saudi Arabia 2 
			 Kenya 2 
			 Falkland Islands 2 
			 Gibraltar 2 
			 Belize 1 
			 Brunei 1 
			 Ascension Island 1 
		
	
	The list covers permanent NAAFI undertakings in overseas garrisons as well as Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI) deployments in support of military operations. The personnel figures shown for each location relate to the number of United Kingdom or United Kingdom Based Contract (UKBC) personnel in post and exclude locally paid staff. The figures for Germany exclude 45 UKBC personnel working for NAAFI financial services and 505 with NAAFI support services.
	In addition, some 60 NAAFI personnel serve with the Naval Canteen Service (NCS). NCS personnel serve on ships deployed in a range of locations around the United Kingdom as well as elsewhere, including the Gulf.

Army Equipment Purchases

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Army personnel he estimates purchase their own (a) boots, (b) shirts, (c) vests, (d) jackets, (e) bergens and (f) trousers.

Adam Ingram: In common with many individuals, and as a matter of personal choice, some soldiers will purchase work-related items of clothing or equipment but none are advised to do so. Specific records are not maintained, but the subject features in the Army's Continuous Attitude Survey (CAS). The latest CAS indicates the following percentages for Army personnel who purchase their own items of clothing.
	
		
			 Clothing Percentage 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) boots 3 
			 (b) shirts (5)— 
			 (c) vests (T-shirts) 1.5 
			 (d) jackets 8.0 
			 (e) bergens 2.3 
			 (f) trousers 1.3 
		
	
	(5) No statistics.

Relocations

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the investment appraisal of the possible relocation sites for (a) the Joint Services Adventurous Training (Gliding) and (b) the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association Centres.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Ro-ro Vessels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what status the six ro-ro ships are accorded within the Royal Navy; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The six Joint Rapid Reaction Force ro-ro are not part of the Royal Navy. They are commercial vessels, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. They were built and are owned and operated, under a Private Finance Initiative, by AWSR Shipping, a commercial consortium. They are manned by Merchant Navy seafarers, who are members of the Sponsored Reserves List of the Royal Naval Reserve, and are therefore liable for call-up when the situation dictates.
	In the same way as for Royal Navy ships, threat assessments are carried out and the appropriate level of protection is provided to the ro-ro, when considered necessary. Such protection may include a United Kingdom Service escort party on-board or accompanying Royal Navy ships.

Rosyth

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what classification is given to the MOD estate at Rosyth; what this estate consists of in respect of the dockyard and the former naval base; and what plans there are to reclassify the defence estate at Rosyth.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 May 2003
	The Rosyth estate consists of:
	The HMS Caledonia Site
	Married quarters (retained by the Defence Housing Executive (DHE))
	Storage/warehousing properties within the former dockyard port, South Arm Jetty (currently occupied by QinetiQ)
	Forthview House complex housing Defence estates and the Pricing and Forecasting Group.
	The Rosyth site was classified as a core site in the review that concluded in March. However, core sites classification is not static and therefore subject to change in response to evolving Defence needs. Subject to this, there are currently no plans to reclassify the defence estate at Rosyth.

Security Clearance

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the levels of security clearance to which officials of his Department are subjected before they are allowed to see the different categories of classified material.

Geoff Hoon: The levels of security clearance that Ministry of Defence officials need in order to be granted access to classified material are those which apply across Government. They are set out in HM Government's statement of vetting policy, as announced to the House on 15 December 1994, Official Report, columns 764–66W.

Women (Front-line Deployment)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the deployment of women into front line positions.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 363W, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Women are not restricted from deployment into front line positions but, for reasons of combat effectiveness, they are excluded from close combat posts. Further information may be found in the report, "Women in the Armed Forces", which may be found on the Ministry of Defence website at: www.mod.uk/issues/women

PRIME MINISTER

Alastair Campbell

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister whether Mr. Alastair Campbell was the subject of the developed vetting procedure.

Tony Blair: Information relating to personnel records, including those relating to recruitment, promotion and security vetting, are not disclosed under part 2, exemption 8 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Falkland Islands

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands with President Kirchner; what the outcome of those discussions has been; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I last met President Kirchner at the Progressive Governance Summit on 13 to 14 July 2003. We did not enter into discussions concerning the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The United Kingdom position on this is well known and remains unchanged; the Falklands will remain British for as long as that is the wish of the Islanders.

Hutton Inquiry

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those categories of information that have been provided to the Hutton Inquiry which are not normally made available (a) to Parliamentary Select Committees and (b) in response to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the different approaches to information disclosure.

Tony Blair: The Government are committed to co-operating fully with the Hutton Inquiry. Relevant papers are being provided to the Inquiry. The decision on which papers to make public is a matter for the Inquiry. In respect of a small number of papers, there may be issues about the need to keep certain information confidential, for instance, because of national security. Where necessary, the papers are provided to the Inquiry on the understanding that certain text will be suitably redacted before being made public.
	Information provided in response to PQs and Select Committees will continue to be decided as appropriate in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and Information and Departmental Evidence to Select Committees.

Iraq

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates prior to the recent conflict with Iraq he met the heads of each of the armed forces to discuss the proposed conflict.

Tony Blair: I discussed the situation in Iraq with the heads of the armed forces at a meeting on 15 January 2003; the Defence Secretary and the Chief of the Defence staff were also present. Subsequently, the views of the Chiefs of Staff were represented to me by the Chief of the Defence Staff, whom I met regularly prior to the conflict.

Iraq

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister which weapons the Prime Minister was referring to in his foreword to the Government's Iraq dossier when he made the statement that military planning allows for some of the weapons of mass destruction to be ready within 45 minutes of an order to use them.

Tony Blair: It was judged that the chemical and biological munitions concerned would be deployed with battlefield systems such as artillery, multiple-launch rockets and mortars.

Ministerial Code of Conduct

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what procedure is in place to handle complaints about the failure of a Prime Minister to adhere to the Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Tony Blair: It is for individual Ministers—including the Prime Minister—to account to Parliament for their actions and decisions.

Multi-national Chairman's Group

Vincent Cable: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Multi-National Chairman's Group; and if he will place in the Library the minutes and the agenda of the meeting.

Tony Blair: I met with the Multi-National Chairman's Group on 2 September 2003 and discussed a range of economic and business environment issues.

Public Inquiries

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to the public purse has been of each public inquiry which has exceeded £1 million since 1997.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) on 12 June 2003, Official Report, columns 987–88W.

Security Service Advice

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances the security services provide advice to him on ministerial (a) appointments and (b) conduct.

Tony Blair: Advice provided by the security services in relation to ministerial appointments and conduct is exempt from disclosure under exemptions l(a), 2 and 8(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

World Trade Talks (Cancun)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with leading British businesses ahead of the Cancun trade negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: In preparing for the 5th World Trade Organisation Ministerial conference in Cancun, my ministerial colleagues have had regular and extensive discussions with British businesses from those industry and service sectors who have an interest in the Doha Development Agenda.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will make a statement to the House on the conference on her return from Cancun.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Cathedrals (Financial Support)

Peter Luff: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what representations the Church Commissioners have made to the Government about the public financial support available to cathedrals.

Stuart Bell: The Church Heritage Forum, on which the Church Commissioners are represented, aims to forge new partnerships with local, central and regional Government and press the case for greater financial support for the Church's built heritage. Discussions are in hand and the Forum aims to report next summer.

Church Income

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what proportion of the Church's income came from collections in the last five financial years.

Stuart Bell: I understand from the Archbishops' Council that total giving through standing order, payroll giving and cash, amounting to £282 million in 2001, accounts for roughly one-third of the Church's overall income. This proportion has not changed significantly over the last five years.

Bishops' Emoluments

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what percentage of the Church Commissioners' total expenditure was spent on bishops' emoluments in each year from 1999.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners are responsible for funding the emoluments of all diocesan, suffragan and full-time assistant bishops as part of their support for bishops. Emoluments include the stipend paid to each bishop, employer's national insurance contributions and pension contributions.
	The Commissioners' annual spending on bishops' emoluments from 1999 is shown in the table in monetary values and as a proportion of their total expenditure. The Commissioners also fund bishops' office and working costs, and housing and office premises costs for diocesan bishops.
	
		
			 Bishops' emoluments £ million As a percentage of Commissioners' total expenditure 
		
		
			 1999 3.5 2.2 
			 2000 3.5 2.2 
			 2001 3.8 2.4 
			 2002 4.0 2.4

Bishops' Emoluments

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many and what percentage of bishops had the use of a chauffeur in May (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; what the total cost was in current prices in each year; and how many chauffeurs in each year were (i) part-time and (ii) full-time.

Stuart Bell: The position is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of bishops with use of a driver Percentage of bishops Total cost (calendar years) (£) Equivalent at May 2003 prices (£) Number of part-time drivers Number of full-time drivers 
		
		
			 2000 32 28 306,318 325,698 23 9 
			 2001 35 30 336,595 350,700 27 8 
			 2002 34 30 324,145 333,895 27 7 
			 2003 32 28 not yet available n/a 25 7

Genetically Modified Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the Commissioners' policy is in respect of genetically modified crops.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners do not permit the growing of genetically modified crops on their land. This policy reflects advice offered by the Church of England's Ethical Investment Advisory Group in 2000, endorsed by the Commissioners and available in full on the Church of England's website at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/view/gmos.rtf. The House of Commons Library holds a copy.
	The group will keep its advice to the Church Commissioners under review in the light of any new evidence, and scientific peer group commentary upon it, arising from the three-year programme of farm scale trials. The Church Commissioners will consider any new advice offered by the group in due course.

Genetically Modified Crops

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the total annual expenditure on bishops' residences was in each year from 1998.

Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners' expenditure on bishops' housing and office premises in each year from 1999 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998 3.0 
			 1999 3.3 
			 2000 3.0 
			 2001 3.3 
			 2002 3.4 
		
	
	As is indicated in note 13 to the Commissioners' annual financial statements, these costs cover building maintenance and repairs, external property management costs, staff costs including salaries and pensions, council tax, insurance and other running costs, Lambeth Palace Library running costs, support services, depreciation, rent paid and rental income. Capital expenditure on existing houses or on acquiring replacement houses is not included.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Sunday Elections

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if the commission will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of holding local and national elections on a Sunday.

Peter Viggers: The commission has evaluated a number of local election pilot schemes which featured voting over a period of days—including, in some instances, Sundays. The commission has no plans at present to undertake a wider review of the issues involved.

Disabled Voters

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the rights of disabled voters to vote by proxy.

Peter Viggers: This is not a matter for the Speaker's Committee, but I understand that a person who by reason of blindness or other physical incapacity cannot reasonably be expected to go in person to the allotted polling station or to vote unaided there, has a statutory right to vote by proxy for an indefinite or particular period.
	The hon. Member will be aware that all voters, disabled or not, are entitled to request a postal vote.

Electronic Voting

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the commission has made of the privacy of data concerning votes cast electronically in elections; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: In its evaluation of the May 2003 electoral pilot schemes, the commission highlighted the importance of ensuring the confidentiality of vote data in electronic voting. The commission concluded that the level of security in the 2003 pilot schemes was sufficient, but recommended further data encryption requirements for future pilot schemes.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Mesopotamia (Antiquities)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance has been provided by her Department in protecting the antiquities of Mesopotamia.

Tessa Jowell: Officials from my Department were among the first civilians sent to Iraq after the war. They worked within the Coalition Provisional Authority to re-establish the Iraqi Culture Ministry. They also worked on clarifying numbers of items missing from the Iraq museum and on implementing measures, to help prevent on-going looting from archaeological sites.
	We have also implemented UNSCR 1483 in reaction to the prohibition of the import of trade in unlawfully removed Iraq cultural property.

Subtitled Films

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to increase the number of subtitled films screened in the UK.

Estelle Morris: The UK Film Council, charged by the Government to create a sustainable British film industry, has announced a cinema access programme to improve access to cinemas by people with hearing and sight impairments. £500,000 of lottery money has been allocated to this programme, of which £350,000 will be used to supply up to 75 local cinemas across England with subtitling and audio-description equipment, and £60,000 will be used to provide sub-titled and audio-described film prints for use in cinemas.

Olympic Bid

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to announce the name of the chief executive officer of the 2012 London Olympic bid; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The appointment of the chief executive officer of London 2012 Ltd., the company established to take forward the bid to host the Olympic Games in London in 2012, is a matter for the company itself.
	I understand that Barbara Cassani, chair of London 2012, is currently considering candidates for the post.

Olympic Bid

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the committee structure for London's 2012 Olympic bid.

Tessa Jowell: The Board of London 2012 Ltd. has been tasked as the bid committee to prepare the bid to host the 2012 Olympics in London. While a number of executive posts to the board remain to be filled, the board members recently announced by London 2012 Ltd. are as follows:
	Barbara Cassani—Chairman
	Mike Power—Chief Operating Officer
	Neale Coleman
	Simon Clegg OBE
	Mike Brace
	Matthew Pinsent CBE
	Craig Reedie CBE
	Sir Steve Redgrave
	HRH The Princess Royal
	Mary Reilly
	Derrick Anderson
	Patrick Carter
	Charles Allen
	Sir Howard Bernstein
	Lord Paul of Marylebone
	Dalton Grant
	A stakeholder's panel of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Mayor of London and Chair of the British Olympic Association has also been established. The stakeholder's panel will have the final right of approval over London's applicant city questionnaire and candidature file.
	London 2012 Ltd. will also be establishing a Bid Forum which will allow London 2012 to consult and seek advice from a wider constituency of interested parties from across London and the country.

Olympic Bid

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Olympic bid will enhance regional sports facilities.

Tessa Jowell: My Department has assessed that should the UK win the right to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games they will provide the opportunity for a lasting legacy for communities through the investment by visiting teams in enhanced sporting facilities for training and preparing for the Games.
	In addition I announced in July that during the bidding phase, community facilities across the UK will be improved through further funding of £100 million from the New Opportunities Fund. In England this will be joined with £31 million from Sport England to provide a fund for community sports facilities in each region.
	This investment will be used together with the Olympic Bid to galvanise enthusiasm and encourage and sustain increased participation in sport in our communities.

Olympic Bid

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how the statement in the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee report on A London Olympic Bid, Cm 5867, that special funding streams to meet Olympic costs should be closed by 2013–14, accords with her statement on 15th May, Official Report, column 481, on the length of time that the special London council tax precept will run;
	(2)  how long the London council tax precept to contribute to the cost of a London Olympic Games will last; at what level it will be set each year; and what the proceeds will be.

Tessa Jowell: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London, as published in the response to the Select committee, makes clear that "the Government and Mayor's expectation I that special funding streams to meet Olympic costs should be closed, having provided the necessary amounts, by 2013–14, except that where the Greater London Authority has borrowed to meet capital costs of the Olympics it may be necessary to extend the period during which the Olympic precept is levied to reflect the requirements of the prudential framework for capital finance."
	Within that Memorandum, London is required to contribute up to £550 million towards the cost of the staging of the Games, with provision for a further £75 million if needed. The Mayor has said that he will raise this from the London Council Tax from an additional £20 a year charge, or 38p a week, on Council Tax for a band D property, likely to begin in 2006–07 if the bid is successful. On the current tax base it is estimated that this would arise the required £550 million in ten years and a further £75 million within another two years if necessary. However, the Mayor has also advised that during the period from 2006–07 the tax base will increase and so that time period may reduce. In addition, the funding package for the Games allows a £1.2 billion contingency over and above Arup's estimates of required public subsidy for staging the Olympics. The time period for collection of Council Tax would also reduce if all contingencies were not required, and it is the Mayor's expectation that special funding streams should have closed, having provided the necessary amount by 2013–14. In the unlikely event that the full funding package is required, and the GLA has to borrow to meet capital costs of staging the Olympics then the period of special funding may extend beyond that dated as allowed for in the Memorandum.
	My statement to the House on 15 May on the length of the time that the special London council tax precept would run presented the Government's assessment of a possible worst-case scenario. The Memorandum of Understanding, as I have explained, makes provision for such an eventuality. However, current expectations are that this will not be the se and that special funding streams should be capable of being closed by 2013–14. The Mayor has also advised that current expectations are that in the unlikely event that the full London contribution were required this could be raised in less than 12 years.

Tourism

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the number of (a) domestic and (b) overseas tourists in England this summer.

Richard Caborn: The latest figures show that the number of domestic tourist trips in England which include an overnight stay were 31.4 million between April and June 2003.
	Figures for overseas tourists visiting England this summer will be available in January 2004. The latest figures for Britain show that, in the three months from May to July 2003, there were 6.9 million visits by overseas residents.

Tourism

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of Stat for Culture, Media and Sport, what arrangements are in place to promote (a) England and (b) Britain overseas as tourist destinations.

Richard Caborn: VisitBritain promotes the whole of Britain overseas, including England, as a tourist destination with £35.5 million Government funding this year and additional partnership funding from the industry. Their current campaigns include a campaign in the United States worth approximately £2 million and a £4 million "City Breaks" campaign in Europe launched last week.

Tourism

Harold Best: To ask the Minister for State and Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with regional development agencies on their progress in co-ordinating regional tourism strategies.

Richard Caborn: I recently met the new Chair of the South West Regional Development Agency (who leads for the RDAs on tourism) and discussed the strategic role which the RDAs have been given in the reformed arrangements for tourism. I am looking forward to a forthcoming meeting with all the RDA Chairs to discuss progress. We have issued guidance to the RDAs on how tourism should be covered in their Corporate Plans and Regional Economic Strategies, which includes working together with each other within the new national framework for tourism strategy and marketing and have commented on draft Corporate Plans and related strategies in the light of this.

Analogue Television

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the switch-off date for analogue television; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The criteria set for switchover are that: everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form must be able to receive them on digital systems; switching to digital is an affordable option for the vast majority of people; and as a target indicator of affordability, 95 per cent. of consumers must have access to digital equipment. The objective of the Digital Television Action Plan Project is to ensure these criteria are met so that we can, if we choose, take the decision to proceed to full switchover by ordering the switching off by 2010 of analogue terrestrial transmissions.

Horseracing Industry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's proposals on the British horseracing industry.

Richard Caborn: The OFT has made no proposals for the racing industry. It is conducting an enquiry into racing's rules and regulations and has issued a Rule 14 notice. That notice points to those areas that appear to restrict or distort competition. The British Horseracing Board and the Jockey Club have now responded and the process will continue until the OFT hands down a final ruling.

BBC Charter

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the process for renewal of the BBC's charter.

Tessa Jowell: The Government will announce how it intends to conduct the Charter Review before the end of the year. I can give a commitment now, however, that the process will be both wide-ranging and thorough, that public debate will form a critical element of the review, and that there will be opportunities for parliamentary scrutiny.

Food Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on food by her Department and by each agency for which it is responsible in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance she has issued to encourage the procurement of home-grown food; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not directly buy food substances. DCMS opened a staff restaurant on 2 April 2001 and employs a catering organisation to provide the required service. The service provider is encouraged by the Department to purchase ethically and environmentally sound goods where this is practical.
	Additionally, the Royal Parks Agency does not operate a system of buying food directly.

Television (Foul Language)

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take powers to prevent the use of obscene, abusive and insulting language on television; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 11 September 2003
	Responsibility for what is broadcast on television rests with the broadcasters and the organisations which regulate broadcasting—the Governors of the BBC, the Independent Television Commission and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority. They are independent of the Government and responsible for safeguarding the public interest in broadcasting. In carrying out their responsibilities, these authorities have a duty to ensure that programmes contain nothing which offends against good taste and decency or is likely to be offensive to public feeling. They also maintain guidelines for programme-makers on the standards which should be observed. This guidance includes advice on the use of language and timing of programmes and recommends when warning announcements about programmes should be made. In addition, the Broadcasting Standards Commission acts as a forum for public concern.
	The Communications Act 2003 establishes a new regulatory framework for broadcasting and the communications industries, including the creation of a single regulatory body for the communications industries, the Office of Communications, which will have similar responsibilities for broadcast content. Viewers who are offended by television programmes should complain to the relevant broadcaster and, in the case of serious breaches of the regulatory codes, to the regulator.

Gatwick Airport Expansion (Listed Buildings)

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Grade I, II, and II* listed buildings would (a) be left without public access and (b) need to be demolished under each of the different proposals to expand runway capacity at Gatwick airport.

Richard Caborn: If a close parallel runway were built three Grade II* and four Grade II buildings would be demolished, rising to five Grade II* and 12 Grade II buildings under the wide-spaced option and 6 Grade II* and 18 Grade II under the two runway option. No Grade I buildings would be affected under any proposed option. We do not hold information about the number of buildings likely to be left without public access.

Private Museums

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support she provides for private museums; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: Independent museums with charitable status are eligible to apply for status as a Registered Museum, under Resource's Registration Scheme. This makes them eligible for support under a wide range of initiatives, including the Renaissance in the Regions programme, the Museum Development Fund, and, if its collections are designated as being of 'outstanding importance', the Designation Challenge Fund.
	Privately owned collections, however, are not eligible for Registered status and do not receive such financial support.

National Lottery

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy on linking the value and number of National Lottery constituency awards and constituency deprivation.

Estelle Morris: All parts of the country should have access to Lottery funds. Many areas suffering wider social and economic deprivation need extra support to develop and put in good applications which are more likely to be successful. The fairshare initiative, bringing together funding from the New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund, specifically seeks to target areas of the UK which were most deprived, and which have not received their 'fair share' of Lottery funding. In addition, the Lottery Funding Decision Document, published in July, contains a number of proposals to make it easier for people to apply for Lottery funding, particularly those in disadvantaged communities. These include the creation of a new distributor, which will focus on improving the quality of life in communities by tackling disadvantage and social exclusion.

Sport England

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria Sport England Exchequer uses to allocate grant aid to national governing bodies; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The process for Exchequer grant allocations to National Governing Bodies of Sport from Sport England is currently under review, the outcome of which is expected towards the end of October.
	To date Sport England Exchequer grants are made available to those National Governing Bodies of Sport that are recognised as leading the development of their sport in England. Sport England investment in National Governing Bodies is based on the ability of the National Governing Body to deliver increased numbers of participants in the sport, to retain involvement in the sport either as participant, coach, official or volunteer, and to achieve publicly recognised levels of success.

Sport England

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the additional level of Exchequer Funds is that has been made available to support the World Class Performance Programme contained in the recommendations of the Cunningham Review for Elite Sports.

Richard Caborn: Following the Spending Review 2002, this Department has made available to UK Sport an additional exchequer allocation of £4.7 million in 2004–05 and £4.7 million in 2005–06, to enable them to take forward some of the recommendations of the Elite Sports Funding Review.

Government Art Collection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by the Government in each year since May 1997 on acquiring works of art; and where each work acquired is held.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 11 September 2003
	In the seven Financial Years since 2 May 1997 the Government Art Collection has spent a total of £1,111,500 from its Programme Vote on the purchase of works of art. This breaks down as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2 May 1997 to 1998 137,000 
			 1998–99 127,000 
			 1999–2000 179,000 
			 2000–01 130,500 
			 2001–02 158,000 
			 2002–03 241,000 
			 1 April to 11 September 2003 139,000 
		
	
	These works of art are currently located in some 55 Government buildings in the UK and around the world, as part of the Collection's remit in promoting British art and culture to visitors to these buildings.

Government Art Collection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been realised by the Government through the sales of works of art in each year since May 1997.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 11 September 2003
	The Government Art Collection has sold no works of art from its holdings since May 1997.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Meat Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of EU import controls in preventing the import of meat from areas of high risk into the United Kingdom.

Ben Bradshaw: European Community law sets out the import conditions which must be met by all meat imported into the community from third countries. These conditions do not permit meat to be imported from areas where veterinary controls cannot guarantee that the meat poses negligible disease risk to human or animal health. Defra veterinary experts and the Food Standards Agency are fully engaged in negotiations to develop Community import conditions. Should the disease situation in an exporting country change, for example if a new outbreak of disease is notified, the European Commission will introduce safeguard measures to control imports so that there is no increased risk of disease as a result. Pending these changes to community rules, in such a situation individual member states are permitted to introduce unilateral provisions to control imports. The Government take such unilateral action whenever the situation demands it.
	Community import rules require all meat imported from third countries to enter the community via specified Border Inspection Posts where it is subject to veterinary examination to ensure the import conditions are being observed. The system of veterinary examination is operated by local authorities and is monitored by Defra and the European Commission to ensure effective controls are in place.
	The Government have produced an Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products April 2002–March 2003 which concentrates on the action against illegal imports. This has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Gatwick Airport (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty)

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty lie within 15 miles of Gatwick airport; and what assessment she has made of the impact on these AONB's from new flight paths to the proposed new runways at Gatwick.

Alun Michael: Parts of four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty lie within 15 miles of Gatwick airport. The Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty concerned are the Kent Downs, Sussex Downs, High Weald and Surrey Hills. We have worked closely with the Department for Transport to ensure that the noise impact of the proposed new airport developments is given full consideration. Taking the 57dB contour as the onset of significant community annoyance, the options for a single close parallel or wide parallel runway are likely to have a minimal impact on the surrounding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The option of building two additional runways at Gatwick would have a greater impact on the Surrey Hills and High Weald Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cattle Passport Scheme

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the operation of the cattle passport scheme.

Alun Michael: The cattle passport scheme is operated by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) and became part of the Rural Payments Agency on 1 April 2003. The cattle passport scheme has been in operation for over six years and the national cattle database contains the details of the 9.7 million animals that make up the national herd. We are currently investing a further £12 million to upgrade the system and improve its performance.
	BCMS operates to ISO 9001:2000 standards, is registered with the British Standards Institute and its operating practices have received the Kite mark. In addition to paper reporting systems, we have provided online facilities via a website for cattle keepers to use. BCMS are constantly striving to improve their service and efficiency.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 142W, on the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, if she will set out the timetable for the implementation of regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Alun Michael: The following table records the progress we have already made towards bringing the regulations into force and our timetable for completing the process. As I explained in my answer of 13 May, the precise timing may vary but we are firmly committed to ensuring the necessary regulations are made to allow the new right of public access under the Act to be rolled out as planned. Regulations enabling persons to dedicate land for access came into force on 1 September and I expect to lay regulations relating to the exclusion or restriction of access soon.
	
		
			 Regulation Section Consultation commenced (not later than) Date regulationsin force(not later than) 
		
		
			 Regulations regarding mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps Section 11 March 2001(ended June 2001) 1 November 2001 
			 Regulations regarding issue of provisional maps, appeals, and issue of conclusive maps Section 11 November 2001(ended 8 February 2002) 29 July 2002 
			 Regulations regarding the establishment of LAFs and the appointment of members Section 94 (Part V) July 2001(ended October 2001) 7 August 2002 
			 Regulations on correcting minor errors and omissions in provisional and conclusive maps Section 11(2)(1) October 2002(ended 7 November 2002) 21 July 2003 
			 Regulations regarding dedication of land for access Section 16 January 2002(ended 15 April 2002) 1 September 2003 
			 Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter II, including appeals (but not emergencies) Section 32 December 2001(ended 22 March 2002) October 2003 
			 Regulations on removal or relaxation of restrictions on access land Paragraph 7,Schedule 2 July 2003(ends October 2003) December 2003 
			 Regulations to exclude access in emergencies Section 31 October 2003 February 2004 
			 Regulations on appeals relating to notices Section 38 October 2003 February 2004 
			 Regulations on references to public places in existing enactments Section 42 October 2003 February 2004 
			 Regulations regarding review of conclusive maps Section 11 February 2004 August 2004

Departmental Staff

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) special advisers, (b) press officers, (c) civil servants, (d) advisers to civil servants and (e) permanent staff were working for her Department in each year since 1996.

Alun Michael: Defra came into being in June 2001 and the following information relates to the period since then.
	(a) The Secretary of State has two Special Advisors.
	The Department employs an Environmental Advisor, who reports to the Director for Environment Protection Strategy.
	Ewen Cameron, who is also Chair of the Countryside Agency, is the Rural Advocate, arguing the case on countryside issues and for rural people at the highest levels in Government and outside. While this role has no formal line of accountability, Sir Ewen works closely with me as Minister of State for Rural Affairs on a range of issues of rural proofing and also has access to the Secretary of State and other senior members of Government.
	Dr. Chris Fay holds the title Emissions Trading Champion. Reporting to the Director for Climate, Energy and Environmental Risk, he assisted the Government in recruiting participants to the UK's voluntary Emissions Trading Scheme launched in April 2002, and plays a role in communicating with business on emissions trading issues.
	Lord Haskins acted as Rural Recovery Co-ordinator during the latter part of the foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001. His role was to help local authorities and other agencies plan for the economic recovery of Cumbria, and to consider what lessons were also applicable to other areas affected by the outbreak. Lord Haskins began work on 14 August 2001 and reported to me in October 2001.
	(b) When Defra was established in June 2001 there were 19 press officer posts. In March 2002 there were 20, in May 2002 there were 22 and as at September 2003 there are 20 press officer posts. These figures include the post of Head of News but not that of Director of Communications.
	(c) and (e) This information is available in Table C of the annual publication Civil Service Statistics, which covers permanent staff numbers in each department and agency from 1996 to 2002. Copies of the publication are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The latest edition, based on April 2002 data, was published on 24 July 2003. The figures will include press officers, although they are not separately identified. The total number of permanent and casual civil servants on both a head-count and a full-time equivalent basis at 1 April 2002 is available in Table A of Civil Service Statistics. Full-time equivalents are preferred to head-counts when examining trends over time. Also, the number of permanent staff is preferred as a basis when looking at trends as casual staff numbers reflect short-term responses to changes in workloads.
	Alternatively, this information is available at the following address on the Cabinet Office's website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm.
	(d) The term "advisers to civil servants" is not one that is recognised.

Export Refunds

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the most recent annual amounts of export refund provided through the EU for the export of (a) fruit, (b) vegetables and (c) sugar; and if she will list the amounts in sterling per pound weight.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 September 2003
	EU expenditure on export refunds in 2001, the latest year for which full information is available, was as follows:
	Fresh fruit and vegetables—36.1 million euros
	Processed fruit and vegetables—14.8 million euros
	The rates of export refund vary by product and over time and the cost per pound weight is not readily available.

Fallen Stock

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of a ban on the disposal of fallen stock.

Alun Michael: The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 permit hunt kennels to continue collecting fallen stock; however they will be required to upgrade to knackers' yard standards if they wish to collect fallen stock for the purposes of feeding to hounds. The effect of a ban on hunting would depend on decisions made by those who currently offer a service and on choices made by farmers leading to takeup of the national scheme. Most hunts already make a charge and there is no reason why such a service should not continue as a business opportunity when hunting wild mammals with dogs is banned.

Departmental Staff

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs under the remit of her Department in (a) the core department and (b) executive agencies are in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation; if she will break down the figures in terms of responsibilities which apply to (1) England, (2) England and Wales and (3) the UK as a whole; and if she will list the non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies for which information is not held centrally.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the number of permanent staff in Defra and its executive agencies that are located in the regions specified as at 1 April 2003.
	
		
			   DEFRA  CEFAS  CSL  PSD 
			  FTE % FTE % FTE % FTE % 
		
		
			 Scotland 77.6 1.17 0.0 0.00 11.0 1.70 0.0 0.00 
			 England, excluding G London 3,707.4 56.14 524.7 100.00 636.9 98.30 174.2 100.00 
			 Greater London 2,680.8 40.59 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Wales 135.2 2.05 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Northern Ireland 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Overseas 3.0 0.05 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Total 6,603.9 100.00 524.7 100.00 647.9 100.00 174.2 100.00 
		
	
	
		
			  RPA VLA VMD 
			  FTE % FTE % FTE % 
		
		
			 Scotland 0.0 0.00 44.0 3.40 0.0 0.00 
			 England, excluding G London 3,370.9 99.94 1,218.3 94.15 119.3 100.00 
			 Greater London 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Wales 0.0 0.00 31.7 2.45 0.0 0.00 
			 Northern Ireland 2.0 0.06 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Overseas 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00 
			 Total 3,372.9 100.00 1,294.0 100.00 119.3 100.00 
		
	
	Due to the complexity of the department and the wide range of business areas that it covers, a break down of these figures in terms of responsibilities that apply to geographical areas could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies are under the remit of Defra:
	Executive
	Agricultural Wages Board for England & Wales
	Agricultural Wages Committee
	Apple and Pear Research Council
	British Potato Council
	Countryside Agency
	English Nature
	Environment Agency
	Food From Britain Council
	Home Grown Cereals Authority
	Horticulture Development Council
	Horticulture Research International
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee
	Meat and Livestock Commission
	Milk Development Council
	National Forest Company
	Regional Flood Defence Committee
	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
	Sea Fish Industry Authority
	UK Register of Organic Food Standards
	Wine Standards Board
	Advisory
	Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment
	Advisory Committee on Consumer Products and the Environment
	Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
	Advisory Committee on Packaging
	Advisory Committee on Pesticides
	Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
	Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee
	Air Quality Expert Group
	Committee of Investigation for Great Britain
	Committee on Agricultural Valuation
	Committee on Products and Processes for use in Public Water Supply
	Committee on Radioactive Waste Management
	Consumers Committee for Great Britain
	Darwin Advisory Committee (the Darwin Initiative)
	Expert Group on Cryptosporidium in Water Supplies
	Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards
	Farm Animal Welfare Council
	Government-Industry Forum on non-food uses of crops
	Hill Farming Advisory Committee
	Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) Appeals Panel
	Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
	Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council
	Pesticide Residues Committee
	Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
	Royal Commission on Environment Pollution
	Science Advisory Council
	Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC)
	Sustainable Development Commission
	Sustainable Development Education Panel
	Veterinary Products Committee
	Veterinary Residues Committee
	Water Regulations Advisory Committee
	Zoos Forum
	Tribunals
	Agricultural Land Tribunal
	Dairy Produce Quota Tribunal
	Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal
	Commons Commissioners
	Public corporation
	British Waterways Board
	Covent Garden Market Authority

Lantra

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with representatives from Lantra on the delivery of its strategic plan.

Alun Michael: I have met the Chairman and senior directors of Lantra on several occasions to discuss a range of matters relating to Lantra's activities, including progress towards meeting the organisation's strategic objectives, and I will continue to do so.

Levies

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the levies, expressed in sterling per pound weight, are for (a) fruit, (b) vegetables and (c) sugar.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 10 September 2003
	EU import duties on fresh fruit and vegetables are set for a range of products on an ad valorem basis. For some products, an additional or minimum sum based on an amount per kilo is payable. The relevant duty rate is applied to the customs value which is normally based on the price actually paid or payable for the goods. However, for certain products, simplified rules are in place which allow a standard unit value to be used as the customs value; these are updated fortnightly. The simplified procedure values in force from 29 August to 11 September are as follows:
	
		Simplified procedure GIF values for certain perishable goods in pounds sterling per 100kg netEffective period 29/08/2003 to 11/09/2003
		
			 SPV Code Description Value/100kgs (£s) Value/pence per pound 
		
		
			 1.10 New potatoes 0.00 0 
			 1.30 Onions (other than seed) 15.00 6.8 
			 1.40 Garlic 75.25 34.14 
			 1.50 Leeks 28.35 12.86 
			 1.60 Cauliflowers 0.00 0.0 
			 1.70 Brussels sprouts 0.00 0.0 
			 1.80 White cabbages and red cabbages 36.21 16.42 
			 1.90 Sprouting broccoli or calabrese (Brassica oleracea L. convar.botrytis (L) Alef. Var. italica 42.50 19.28 
			 1.100 Chinese cabbage 37.55 17.03 
			 1.110 Cabbage lettuce (head lettuce) 0.00 0.0 
			 1.120 Endives 0.00 0.0 
			 1.130 Carrots 12.56 5.70 
			 1.140 Radishes 63.91 28.99 
			 1.160 Peas (Pisum sativum) 222.41 100.88 
			 1.170 Beans:   
			 1.170.1 Beans (Vigna Spp. Phaseolus spp.) 65.88 29.88 
			 1.170.2 Beans (Phaseolus ssp. Vulgaris var. Compressus Savi) 64.90 29.44 
			 1.180 Broad beans 0.00 0.0 
			 1.190 Globe artichokes 0.00 0.0 
			 1.200 Asparagus   
			 1.200.1 -green 174.04 78.94 
			 1.200.2 -other 150.99 68.49 
			 1.210 Aubergines (eggplants) 54.99 24.94 
			 1.220 Ribbed celery (Apium graveolens L. var dulce (Mill) Pers.) 54.76 24.84 
			 1.230 Chantarelles 503.43 228.35 
			 1.240 Sweet peppers 73.05 33.14 
			 1.250 Fennel 0.00 0.0 
			 1.270 Sweet potatoes, whole, fresh (intended for human consumption) 66.01 29.94 
			 2.10 Chestnuts (Castanea spp.), fresh 0.00 0.0 
			 2.30 Pineapples, fresh 69.60 31.57 
			 2.40 Avocados, fresh 116.74 52.95 
			 2.50 Guavas and mangoes, fresh 103.37 46.89 
			 2.60 Sweet oranges, fresh   
			 2.60.1 -Sanguines and semi-sangunes 29.89 13.56 
			 2.60.2 -Navels, Navelines, Navelates, Salustianas, Vernas, Valencia lates, Maltese, Shamoutis,Ovalis, Trovita and Hamlins 32.33 14.66 
			 2.60.3 -Others 29.94 13.58 
			 2.70 Mandarins (including tangerines and satsumas), fresh; clementines, wilkings and similarcitrus hybrids, fresh:   
			 2.70.1 -Clementines 57.05 25.88 
			 2.70.2 -Monreales and Satsumas 46.00 20.87 
			 2.70.3 -Mandarins and wilkings 52.41 23.77 
			 2.70.4 -Tangerines and others 47.05 21.34 
			 2.85 Limes (Citrus aurantifolia), fresh 49.40 22.41 
			 2.90 Grapefruit, fresh:   
			 2.90.1 -white 35.49 16.10 
			 2.90.2 -pink 62.00 21.12 
			 2.100 Table grapes 0.00 0.0 
			 2.100 Water melons 16.51 7.49 
			 2.120 Melons (other than water melons):   
			 2.120.1 -Amarillo, Cuper, Honey Dew (including Cantalene), Ontenient, Piel de Sapo (includingVerde Liso), Rochet, Tendral, Futoro 85.16 38.63 
			 2.120.2 -other 107.39 48.71 
			 2.140 Pears   
			 2.140.1 Pears—Nashi (Pyrus pyrifolia) 0.00 0.0 
			 2.140.2 Other 0.00 0.0 
			 2.150 Apricots 146.89 66.63 
			 2.160 Cherries 330.01 149.69 
			 2.170 Peaches 0.00 0.0 
			 2.180 Nectarines 0.00 0.0 
			 2.190 Plums 0.00 0.0 
			 2.200 Strawberries 272.15 123.45 
			 2.205 Raspberries 210.99 95.70 
			 2.210 Fruit of the species Vaccinium myrtillus (Bilberries) 285.76 129.62 
			 2.220 Kiwi fruit (Actinidia chinensis Planch) 120.14 54.50 
			 2.230 Pomegranates 216.14 98.04 
			 2.240 Khakis (including Sharon fruit) 236.07 107.08 
			 2.250 Lychees 128.96 58.50 
		
	
	The current import duty on (non-preferential) sugar imported into the EU is 419 euros per tonne. This equivalent to about 13p per pound.

Light Pollution

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to deal with light pollution, with particular reference to domestic security equipment not requiring planning permission.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra considered the control of nuisance caused by security lighting in its recent consultation "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities".
	The paper sought opinions as to whether the Government should introduce new regulations for the positioning of external lighting (including domestic or security lighting, but excluding street lights); and whether the remit of the statutory nuisance regime should be extended to include such lighting. The consultation period closed on 14 February. A summary of the comments received to this consultation exercise has now been published. Most respondents felt that the statutory nuisance regime would be the most effective option, but issues were highlighted regarding the need to identify a feasible means of assessing external light for enforcement purpose. Copies of the summary report have been placed in both houses, and it is also available at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/index.htm.
	The House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology recently held an inquiry into light pollution and astronomy. This focused on the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce the impact of light pollution on astronomy and considered what further steps, if any, are required. The outcome of the inquiry will be published in due course and will be made available on the House of Commons' website.
	The Government will consider its future course of action taking into consideration any recommendations and conclusions emerging from the Select Committee's inquiry and from Defra's recent consultation exercise.

Sheep Dip

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which farmers use arable cypermethrin for sheep dip; what the implications of its inappropriate use are in terms of risk to (a) the environment, (b) animal health and (c) human health; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 11 September 2003
	Cypermethrin is included as an active ingredient in 12 products currently authorised for use as veterinary medicines, including a number of sheep dips. All of these products have been fully assessed against a number of statutory criteria designed to assure their safety, quality and efficacy for this use.
	However my officials are currently investigating reports that suggest that a number of farmers may be purchasing an arable form of cypermethrin for use illegally to dip sheep. Although these investigations are at an early stage we have identified a number of sheep farmers in the Ceredigion region of South Wales who do not grow arable crops but who recently have purchased arable cypermethrin products.
	The arable product has been assessed for use as a pesticide, not as a sheep dip. It is not possible accurately to quantify the risks to the environment, animal health or human health from the illegal use of arable cypermethrin products as sheep dips as more information is required on how the product has actually been used. We are trying to collect this information and will carry out a risk assessment as soon as we are able. However, from the limited information currently available, our main concern relates to the potential environmental damage that might be caused by the inappropriate use, and disposal, of such products.

Training Opportunities (Countryside)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training opportunities are available for those working in the countryside.

Alun Michael: With the exception of schemes targeted at particular industry sectors, such as the Vocational Training Scheme provided under the England Rural Development Programme, people working in the countryside are entitled to the same wide and diverse range of training opportunities as people working elsewhere. The pattern of provision varies from place to place. Issues which are specific to the countryside, such as access to training for people living in remote rural areas, are being examined in the Department's Learning Skills and Knowledge Review.

Urban Commons

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what types of development are permissible on land designated as urban common under the Law of Property Act 1925; and whether such development requires approval by the Secretary of State;
	(2)  under what circumstances the erection of fencing is permitted on land designated as registered urban common under the Law of Property Act 1925.

Alun Michael: Under the provisions of section 194 of the Law of Property Act 1925, the Secretary of State's consent is required for any works which prevent or impede access to any land which, on 1 January 1926, was subject to rights of common. Such consent is separate from any other consent that might be needed, for example, under planning legislation.
	It is not possible to say what types of work might receive the Secretary of State's consent, or in what circumstances such consent might be granted. Each application is treated on its individual merits after full consideration of all relevant factors. Details of any proposed works would have to be advertised in the local press.

Varroa

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on chemical resistant varroa mites; and what plans she has to contain the spread of varroa mites.

Ben Bradshaw: Controlling varroa is still the single most important challenge to UK beekeeping today. The pest is now endemic across much of the UK. Defra (and MAFF before it) has been funding a range of measures applied by the National Bee Unit under the Department's bee health programme, and R&D to better equip beekeepers to manage varroa infestations in their colonies ever since it was first detected in Devon in 1992. These measures include the provision of a free diagnostic and inspection service as well as training and education to enable beekeepers to become self-reliant in controlling the mite through improved bee husbandry.
	The Department has not yet commissioned any R&D on resistant mites, although current research investigating biological control methods for varroa is extremely relevant given the presence in England and Wales of varroa mites resistant to Apistan and Bayvarol, until recently the only two varroacides authorised for use in the UK.
	As has been demonstrated on the Continent, the varroa mite will develop resistance to most chemicals applied to control it; the spread of resistance is therefore inevitable. However, with foresight, the National Bee Unit began implementing a surveillance programme monitoring apiaries for signs of resistance in early 2000. As a result, the UK has been one of only a few countries that has been able to detect resistance before it has become fully established, thus enabling us to take action to help beekeepers treat affected colonies at an early stage. Although resistance is more widespread this year, the recent introduction on the UK market of a new treatment for varroa is welcome. Unlike Apistan and Bayvarol, the new product, Apiguard, is not based on a pyrethroid active ingredient and beekeepers will be able to use this, along with other controls, in particular Integrated Pest Management, which we are strongly advocating, to combat pyrethroid resistant mites.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Music Piracy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect of web music piracy on (a) music sales and (b) the cost of legally purchased music;
	(2)  what action she is taking to prevent web music piracy.

Stephen Timms: We have studied various and somewhat contradictory assessments that have been made by others considering the effect of music piracy on the internet on music sales and the cost of legally purchased music. These suggest that reliable evaluation of the relationship would be difficult. Moreover, my understanding is that much illegal file sharing on the internet is illegal private copying rather than piracy which further adds to the difficulty of an evaluation.
	Although UK copyright law already provides strong protection for those who own rights in music, our implementation in the UK of the EU Copyright Directive will clarify these rights and introduce criminal offences for internet music piracy, that is wilful illegal transmission of music on the internet when conducted at least on a commercial scale. The increasing availability of legitimate music tracks on the internet should also assist in encouraging those engaged in illegal private copying to desist and the clarification of the law resulting from the Copyright Directive should enable the music industry to trade online with even greater confidence.

Civil Relationships Registration Scheme

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the rights which a married couple have, but a couple under the proposed civil relationships registration scheme would not have.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 September 2003
	The consultation paper on civil partnership explains the main proposed rights and responsibilities that the Government has identified as important for same-sex couples who choose to register their partnerships. We are currently consulting on whether there are any significant rights and responsibilities not mentioned in the paper that should be addressed.

Coal Investment Aid

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received in respect of coal investment aid; from which companies the applications were received; how many applicants have been successful; and what aid was awarded in respect of each application.

Stephen Timms: 14 applications were received by 31 July 2003. Details are on the DTI website at: www.dt.gov.uk/energy/coal/invest aid/index They are still being assessed and no aid has yet been awarded.

Corporate Responsibility Bill

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultation her Department is holding on the Corporate Responsibility Bill; which companies have been informed of this consultation; and which other stakeholders have been asked for their views.

Jacqui Smith: The Department is not holding or planning any consultation on the Corporate Responsibility Bill though we have received views from MPs and the public.

Illegal Imports

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the import of products produced in illegal ways in the United Kingdom.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 September 2003
	All imports to the United Kingdom must be in compliance with the controls and conditions laid down in national or European Community legislation.

Langage Power Station

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the time period for commencement of the construction of the gas fired power station at Langage, Plymouth expires; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: 14 November 2005. The consent and associated planning permission of 15 November 2000 make clear that development must begin within five years for the permissions to remain valid.

Mineworkers' Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money the Government paid to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers for processing vibration white finger and respiratory coal health claims.

Nigel Griffiths: None.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions since 1997 when ministers from her Department have accompanied British firms on visits overseas to promote export marketing and sales, indicating the name of the minister and the country visited in each case.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 September 2003
	Ministers take every opportunity to accompany British firms on visits overseas in order to help increase trade and investment opportunities, and boost British exports.
	For example, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry led a senior business delegation to India in January 2003. I and my hon Friend, the Under-secretary of State for Small Business also led trade missions to India in November 2002 and February 2003 respectively.
	My hon. Friend, the Minister for Trade and Investment, led a senior business delegation to China as part of the Prime Minister's visit in July 2003. His predecessor, my noble Friend Baroness Symons, now the Minister for State for the Middle East led a business delegation to Brazil in March 2002.
	My hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame North the then Minister of State for Energy and Construction, supported the UK presence at the Caspian Oil and Gas show in Azerbaijan in June 2003. He also went to Houston, USA in May 2003 for the Offshore Technology Conference (where over 100 UK companies were exhibiting); to Brazil in September 2002 for the Rio de Janeiro Oil and Gas Show; and to Stavanger, Norway, in August 2002 for the Offshore Northern Seas Exhibition.Full information on all visits is not, however, recorded centrally in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Safety

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will undertake an assessment of safety at nuclear power stations following the recent heatwave; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No. Assessment of safety of UK nuclear installations is for the operators licensed by the safety regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Since all the UK nuclear stations that were operating during the heatwave depend on sea water, not river water for their cooling, the rise in the temperature of the cooling water remained well within the limits allowed by the various plant safety cases. HSE maintained regulatory vigilance during this period and was satisfied that safety case limits were not threatened by the hot weather.

Royal Mail

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions have taken place with Royal Mail representatives regarding the use of railways to transport mail; and what measures have been taken to reduce redundancies.

Stephen Timms: The Department meets Royal Mail on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues, including progress on the transport review.
	Royal Mail envisage that the implementation of the whole transport review will impact on around 2,500 jobs across various parts of its distribution operation, including around 150 in rail.
	Royal Mail will seek to achieve any job losses through natural wastage and redeployment of staff within other parts of Royal Mail.
	Royal Mail has advised that it has not ruled out the use of rail in the future, and is still talking to a number of rail freight operators who believe they can offer a commercially viable rail solution.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  (what funding the Government provided for the development of partnership working between Royal Mail and trades unions representing employees in its United Kingdom Mails division in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04;
	(2)  what representations her Department has made to the management of Royal Mail on the development of partnership working in Royal Mail;
	(3)  what asessment she has made of progress in developing partnership working between the management and trades unions in Royal Mail.

Stephen Timms: Royal Mail were awarded £50,000 under the Partnership at Work Fund in 2002–03 to introduce partnership working at regional, national and area level with the Communication Workers Union and the Communication Managers' Association.
	The Department meets Royal Mail on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including progress on developing partnership working. Good progress has been made in setting up a Partnership framework since Lord Sawyer's review in 2001, but there is still some way to go and the current process has stalled. The Department, wherever possible, continues to encourage the management and unions to take forward the Partnership approach set out by Lord Sawyer.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the expenditure by Royal Mail on external consultancy services was in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03.

Stephen Timms: Expenditure by Royal Mail on external consultancy services is an operational matter for the company. I have, therefore, asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Royal Mail

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions has she had with industry stakeholders with regard to Postcomm's proposed terms of access to Royal Mail services.

Stephen Timms: Ministers regularly receive representations on a range of postal issues. Access pricing policy is, however, a matter for the regulator. The regulator is currently examining the results of its public consultation on this issue, to which a number of industry stakeholders have commented. A full list of respondents and details of representations received are shown on their website: http://www.postcomm.gov.uk

Royal Mail

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many lorry movements in and out of Royal Mail terminals have taken place in each of the last three years.

Stephen Timms: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail Group plc. I have therefore asked the Deputy Chairman of Royal Mail to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Science and Engineering (Women Employees)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many women work in the science, engineering and technology industries in the UK and what percentage of all workers in those industries were women in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: Data are only available for spring 2001, 2002 and 2003. The information requested is not available in a consistent basis prior to spring 2001, due to a change in the occupation classification used in the Labour Force Survey, from SOC90 to SOC2000.
	
		Women employed in science, engineering and technology occupations—United Kingdom, springs (March to May) 2001, 2002 and 2003 -- Not seasonally adjusted
		
			 March to May Thousand Percentage(6) 
		
		
			 2001 335 14.1 
			 2002 337 14.6 
			 2003 302 12.8 
		
	
	(6) Women as a percentage of all employed in science, engineering and technology occupations.
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey.

Telecommunications

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the number of telecommunications-related jobs that have been lost to overseas competition in the last six years; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department of Trade and Industry has not made an assessment of whether any telecoms related jobs have been lost to overseas competition in the last six years. Despite a severe global downturn in the telecoms industry that has resulted in the loss of a number of telecoms related jobs world-wide, official statistics suggest that employment in telecoms in Great Britain has been relatively stable.
	
		Employment in the GB(7) telecommunications industry
		
			  Employment (thousand) 
		
		
			 1998 194 
			 1999 209 
			 2000 236 
			 2001 248 
			 2002 (8)236 
			 2003 (9)238 
		
	
	(7) Data for GB do not include Northern Ireland.
	(8) Data as at December 2002.
	(9) Data as at March 2003.
	Sources:
	1998 to 2001 figures: Annual Business Inquiry Data, Industry 64.2, Telecommunications 2002 to 2003 Labour Market Trends (Monthly Report) July 2003.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Modern Apprenticeships

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of young people in modern apprenticeships who are from (a) one parent families and (b) households in receipt of housing benefit.

Alan Johnson: The Youth Cohort Study (YCS) for England and Wales provides information on the activities of young people who have completed compulsory education. For the cohort of 16 and 17-year-olds who completed their compulsory education in 2001, the YCS estimates that 20 per cent. of those on Modern Apprenticeships were from lone parent families. The proportion of young people from lone parent families for the cohort as a whole was 22 per cent. The YCS does not collect information about the receipt of housing benefit.

Modern Apprenticeships

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average pay of young people on Modern Apprenticeships was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by job type.

Alan Johnson: The rate of pay for a Modern Apprentice is agreed by the employer and the individual apprentice. Modern Apprentices are either paid a wage by their employer or receive a training allowance. The minimum training allowance is £40 per week.
	The Youth Cohort Study (YCS) for England and Wales provides information on the activities of young people who have completed compulsory education. According to the YCS, for the cohort who completed compulsory education in 2001, the average pay for 16 and 17-year-olds who were either waged or paid a training allowance was £88 per week. For the cohort who completed compulsory education in 1999, the corresponding rate of pay for 18 and 19-year-olds was £133 per week.
	The YCS does not collect information by job type for Modern Apprenticeships.

Specialist Teaching (Sign Language)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in the UK specialise in teaching those who are hard of hearing; what funding is afforded to them; where sign language is taught in state schools; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Department does not hold this information for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. In England, there are 1,088 maintained special schools, of which 13 have hearing impairment as their primary category of need, and three have hearing impairment as their secondary category of need. In addition, there are eight non-maintained special schools which specialise in hearing impairment.
	According to a survey conducted by the British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD) in 2000, of the 25,019 children taught by teachers of the deaf, 67 per cent. were in mainstream schools, 14 per cent. in units attached to mainstream schools, and 19 per cent. in special schools.
	In maintained special schools, funding is usually related to a set number of places, with the individual place cost determined by the complexity of learning needs that the school has to address. The average budget share for a pupil in a maintained special school is £10,800. Government support for non-maintained special schools comes primarily from the Devolved Capital Formula, the Standards Fund and School Standards Grant.
	The Department does not hold records centrally indicating where sign bilingualism is taught in schools. However, the BATOD survey suggested that sign bilingualism was used by 6 per cent. of children (601 in schools for the deaf and 410 in units attached to mainstream schools).

Adult Non-vocational Courses

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the extent to which provision of adult non-vocational courses meets the needs of the community in West Herts; and what representations he will make on this issue.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 11 September 2003
	The Learning and Skills Council has responsibility for planning and funding non-vocational adult education provided through local education authorities. The local LSC for Hertfordshire has recently commissioned a Strategic Options Review of West Hertfordshire College, which is due to report at the end of September 2003. Nationally we recently reaffirmed our intention to safeguard such courses and opportunities for all adult learners, 21st Century Skills, Realising Our Potential, July 2003.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to enable students studying for science degrees and doctorates to avoid taking part in animal experiments they do not wish to participate in.

Alan Johnson: Higher education institutions in the UK are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for the content and delivery of their own programmes. Students with particular concerns about aspects of course content would need to discuss this with their prospective university before deciding to enrol. However, independent bodies like the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare can offer advice and guidance to universities and individuals on the welfare and ethical use of animals in education and science.

Early Literacy Programme

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 25 Jun 2003, Official Report, column 777W, on the Early Literacy Programme, when the 'Go Karts' early literacy support video was withdrawn from use; and for what reasons the video was withdrawn.

Stephen Twigg: The 'Go Karts' sequence was one of a number included in the Early Literacy Support (ELS) video made available to local authorities in September 2000, as part of the first national training of Reception and Year 1 teachers and teaching assistants. The specific purpose of this sequence was to provide training to Reception teachers about the ELS programme. Revisions were made to the video and training materials that were sent to schools in September 2001, specifically to support the implementation of the programme in Year 1.

Learning and Skills Council

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether the Learning and Skills Council National Contracting Service is required to take account of existing contractual agreements and relationships that a local Learning and Skills Council and local providers already have with industry when issuing contracts to national providers;
	(2)  at what stage of the process local Learning and Skills Councils and providers will be informed of the intention to issue a contract through the Learning and Skills Council National Contracting Service;
	(3)  if he will list by (a) value of contract and (b) region, the contracts that have been issued by the Learning and Skills Council National Contracting Service to fund, or part fund, employer-based learning;
	(4)  how many contracts have been issued by the Learning and Skills Council National Contracting Service to offer free training for a qualification; how many of these were in areas where an existing locally-based contract was already present; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested and place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Further Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons (a) further education tuition for adults to Level 2 will be free and (b) tuition to Level 3 will be charged for.

Alan Johnson: In making decisions about public funds we have to prioritise so that funding is targeted where it will make the most difference. Over 7 million adults in the workforce in England do not possess level 2 or equivalent qualifications. These individuals are more likely to lack the foundation of skills they need for employability, and are less likely to get a secure, well paid job. In contrast, the higher wages paid to people with qualifications above level 2 offer a greater incentive for both individuals and employers to invest in learning. The entitlement to free tuition for individuals studying for a first full level 2 qualification, to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, will enable individuals to achieve a level of educational attainment that will provide them with a with a platform of skills for employability, enable them to improve their position in the labour market and increase their chances of undertaking further learning.
	This focus on using public funds to help people reach level 2 should be seen within a wider strategy which encourages up-skilling and re-skilling at all levels. To that end, the Government will provide increased support for individuals developing their skills and qualifications at level 3 in priority sectors and to meet specific regional skills needs. We believe that this is the fairest way to manage participation in further education, and make productivity gains with public investment.

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether, subject to access requirements, universities will be able to charge top-up fees for Foundation Degrees.

Alan Johnson: Foundation Degrees are, and will be subject to the same funding arrangements as other Higher Education qualifications.

Higher Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Office of Fair Access will be empowered to consider the adequacy of (a) financial and (b) pastoral support available to students at higher education institutions.

Alan Johnson: We said in "Widening Participation in Higher Education" that the role of the Office for Fair Access would be to consider and approve universities' access agreements, where an institution intended to charge variable fees in excess of the standard fee (currently £1,125) for any of their courses. Institutions will draw up their own agreements, which must set out the fee levels they wish to charge and the courses to which higher fees will apply; the outreach work they plan to undertake; the bursaries and other financial support they will make available; and the milestones against which they intend to measure progress towards their widening participation ambitions. These are the features which OFFA will consider.

Student Income and Expenditure Survey

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he plans to publish the latest Student Income and Expenditure Survey.

Alan Johnson: The Department has received a draft report of the 2002/03 Student Income and Expenditure Survey from the contractor and is currently considering comments from the steering committee; including representation from the NUS and UUK. The Department will announce a date for publication once a finalised report has been received from the contractor.

Tuition Fees

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what account is taken when assessing levels of tuition fee payments of the number of children within a family intending to go to university that the student's parents will have to support.

Alan Johnson: Support for dependent students under 25 in higher education is based on a financial assessment of their parents' gross income in the previous financial year. In the academic year 2003/04, parents will not make any contribution to their children's support if their residual income is below £20,970 a year.
	Where there is more than one child in higher education, the total parental contribution is limited to the amount that would be assessed if there were only one student child. The parental contribution is then apportioned between the number of children in the family studying a course of higher education. Therefore, where parents have more than one student child, there is no higher assessed parental contribution to make to their student support.

Tuition Fees

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what controls are in place on the level of tuition fees for Masters Degree courses; and whether financial assistance is available for those unable to pay.

Alan Johnson: The Government do not regulate the levels of fee charged for Masters Degree courses: it is for Higher Education Institutions to decide what level of fee they will charge. The Government do not make available assistance in the form of grants for fees for students undertaking Masters Degrees. The research councils and the Arts and Humanities Research Board provide a number of studentships and research grants each year for postgraduate students, including some on Masters courses depending on the field of study. These are allocated on a competitive basis.

University Entry Criteria

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many United Kingdom universities accept (a) vocational and (b) work-based learning qualifications as entry criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Universities are taking into account an increasingly wide range of evidence when making decisions about a candidate's suitability. The extent to which vocational and work-based learning qualifications are taken into account varies from course to course, but they are particularly relevant for more vocationally orientated courses such as foundation degrees. However, this is a matter for universities and we have no figures on the number of courses for which vocational or work-based qualifications are taken into account in assessing a student's suitability.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Micro-finance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what action he is taking to increase support for micro-finance through the World Bank.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development provides extensive financial and technical support for the development of microfinance globally. Much of this work involves collaboration with The World Bank. DFID is an active member of The Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), a 29-member organisation of donors and private foundations committed to the spread of best practice and the expansion of microfinance worldwide.
	CGAP is based in Washington DC, and is supervised by the World Bank, its largest shareholder. DFID currently chairs CGAP's Executive Committee, and works with the organisation in many developing countries to help commercialise microfinance institutions, extend their outreach to more clients, and diversify the range of financial services they offer poor clients from credit to savings, insurance, leasing and remittances.
	DFID also collaborates with World Bank officials in several of its country programmes including Uganda, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. This involves co-ordinating programmes to develop the financial sector, and to mainstream microfinance into the formal banking system. DFID also supports programmes of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the World Bank Group in the Balkans, Africa, South Asia, China and the Mekong. These programmes improve the policy and regulatory environment for small enterprise development, and support the expansion of private banks and non-governmental organisations that provide microfinance services.

Afghanistan

Helen Liddell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development 
	(1)  what improvements have been introduced in Afghanistan to ensure improved heath care for women and children in the last year;
	(2)  what assistance the Government have provided towards improved maternity and neonatal care in Afghanistan.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Afghanistan Transitional Administration has asked donors to concentrate on a few key areas of the reconstruction effort where they can have most impact. In response to this the UK is concentrating on building the capacity of the Afghan Government, humanitarian aid and programmes to support the development of income generation.
	We also fund Afghanistan's reconstruction effort through multi-lateral channels. The UK is the fourth largest donor to UNICEF and provided £44 million overall funding in 2002. We provide 19 per cent. of the European Union's £282 million package of reconstruction support for Afghanistan for 2003–04, of which £17.5 million is programmed for the health sector to help reduce infant and maternal mortality by providing a basic health care package. We are also contributing towards the World bank's Afghanistan Health Sector Emergency Reconstruction and Development Project, which aims to help expand delivery of basic health services and work to ensure equitable access, particularly for women and children.
	Since April 2002 the European Commission has worked with the United States to rebuild 72 hospitals, clinics and women's health care centres, revise the national curriculum for midwives and vaccinate 4.3 million children against measles. Over 2003 and 2004, the EC will channel support through the Government to deliver health services to 3 million people and help to reduce the unacceptably high levels of child and maternal mortality.
	UNICEF has supported Emergency Obstetric Care services in 20 districts and refurbished Malalai hospital, the largest maternity hospital in Kabul with 15,000 deliveries every year. UNICEF plans to launch other facilities in Kandahar, Herat and Jalalabad to build up the maternal health infrastructure.
	Although health is not a key area of our bilateral support, we have funded consultants to the MoH to assist with policy and planning. One of these consultants played a major role in developing the country's interim health strategy.

Afghanistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the clearing of landmines in Afghanistan.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: At the end of 2002 an estimated 850 square kilometres of land in Afghanistan were still contaminated with anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines, as well as bombs dropped from aircraft and other explosive devices, such as mortars, which fail to detonate on impact but are still capable of exploding when they are touched or moved. As many as 300 people per month were injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance last year.
	The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is responsible for co-ordinating 15 non-governmental organisations on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan for the clearing of mines and unexploded ordnance. We have provided £5.3 million funding to UNMAS over the last three years for their clearance operations in Afghanistan.
	Since 1989, 754 square kilometres of minefields and former battle areas have been cleared or declared safe. In addition, the programme has overseen services that taught more than 2.4 million people how to identify and avoid mines and unexploded ordnance. In 2002 alone, the programme cleared mines and unexploded ordnance from about 111 square kilometres of land.
	The Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan recently announced Afghanistan could be free from the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance by 2012 if clearance operations continue at current levels and if international donor support is sustained.

Agricultural Produce (EU Reforms)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment has been made of the impact of EU reform of the (a) sugar, (b) oil, (c) cotton, (d) tobacco and (e) olive oil regimes on trade exports to the United Kingdom from (i) least developed countries covered by the Everything but Arms agreement and (ii) non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hilary Benn: The Commission is analysing a number of options for reform of the EU sugar regime although, to date, no formal proposals have been made. DFID has already undertaken its own analysis on the impact on developing countries of the four families of reform options suggested by the Commission earlier this year. In addition, DFID has commissioned a study to explore the potential need for adjustment assistance for ACP countries with preferential access to the EU sugar market that may lose out from a reform of this regime. This analysis includes both least developed and non-least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This study will be presented to the Commission.
	As agreed at the Luxembourg Council (June 2003), the Commission is expected to release a second round CAP reform proposal covering olive oil, tobacco and cotton in autumn 2003. The reforms will be based on the approach and objectives of the June 2003 CAP reform. On receipt of these reform proposals, DFID will consider the issue of assessing their implications for developing countries. There have not been any recent changes to the EU oil seeds regime nor are there expected to be.

International Conference onPopulation and Development

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development whether the Government intends to reaffirm its commitment to the International Conference on Population and Development's Programme of Action.

Hilary Benn: The Government remains firmly committed to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)'s Programme of Action, including the target of achieving access to reproductive health for all by 2015. Reproductive Health continues to be a priority for DFID. We are convinced that reproductive health and rights are vital to making progress to attaining the Millennium Development Goals to combat HIV/AIDS and reduce maternal and child mortality. We also consider it a basic right of women and men to exercise informed and responsible choice in matters relating to their sexual and reproductive health.
	The Government will continue to work with the international community to ensure that reproductive health receives the priority it demands. We plan to produce a public policy statement on reproductive health before the end of the year.

Iraq

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what further steps will be taken (a) to provide ongoing development and humanitarian aid for the reconstruction of Iraq and (b) to address the needs of the communities there.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has now committed £198 million towards humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq. This money is being used to support essential services such as health care, food supply, electricity, water and sanitation, and to undertake reconstruction and mine clearance work. The aim is to achieve real and rapid improvements to the lives of ordinary Iraqi citizens. Most of the funding is channelled through United Nations –agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and NGOs, which have the capacity and experience to implement humanitarian and development programmes effectively on the ground. DFID is also financing projects managed by commercial companies. £20 million was recently approved for spare parts, equipment and rehabilitation work to improve service delivery in the power, fuel and water sectors in southern Iraq.
	Future allocations will be considered in view of social and economic needs assessments under preparation by the UN, World Bank and IMF.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures the Department is taking to rebuild Iraq's seed supply.

Hilary Benn: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is focusing its current activities in Iraq on the procurement and distribution of seed and other inputs for the winter planting season, which is the immediate priority for Iraqi farmers. DFID has provided £1,500,000 to FAO to support agriculture in conflict-affected areas of southern Iraq, including the provision of seed. In the longer term, priorities may include the creation of grain banks.

Sierra Leone

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what progress is being made towards the alleviation of poverty in Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: There is insufficient data available since the end of the civil war to show trends in poverty reduction. In 2001, The Government of Sierra Leone published an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, focused on re-establishment of security and economic recovery. The Government hopes to complete a full Poverty Reduction Strategy by mid-2004. It will be the basis for targeting Government and donor resources on poverty reduction. The preparatory process includes a household expenditure survey and sector studies that will provide information on the extent and depth of poverty, a baseline for future monitoring and poverty reduction measures. We are providing extensive support to the preparation of the strategy.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Applications

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average time taken to deal with an application made using the Pension Credit telephone application line;
	(2)  what targets he has set for dealing with applications made using the Pension Credit telephone application line.

Chris Pond: The average time to complete a Pension Credit application for customers using the telephone application line is currently about 20 minutes. Reliable information on the time taken to process applications is not yet available. However, the Department's published Service Delivery Agreement includes a three-year target to ensure that Pension Credit applications are processed on average within 10 days once the necessary information and evidence has been obtained.

Child Support Agency

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will require the Child Support Agency to provide evidence of its assessment of the financial status of (a) the parent in care and (b) the absent parent to either of the parties concerned if they request it.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Brian Jenkins, dated 15 September 2003
	The Secretary of State in replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask if he will require the Child Support Agency to provide evidence of its assessment of the financial status of (a) the parent in care and (b) the absent parent to the parties concerned if they request it.
	The Agency is only concerned with the financial status of a parent with care and a non-resident parent to the extent to what this is relevant in meeting their statutory functions.
	An award notification is sent to both parties following a new or fresh calculation of maintenance liability. This notice provides information to enable both parties to understand how the amount has been arrived at, including the relevant income information. If either party wants to know more about the decision or they disagree, the notification advises them to contact the Agency who will then explain the decision in detail and answer any questions the client may have.

International Labour Organisations

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to ratify (a) the International Labour Organisation Seafarers' Welfare Convention 163 (1987) and (b) the International Labour Organisation Seafarers' Welfare Recommendation 173 (1987); and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list International Labour Organisation conventions which the United Kingdom has (a) declined to sign and (b) not yet signed; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The Government have no plans to ratify ILO Convention 163 for the reasons given in the 1989 White Paper (Cm 658), and notes that only 12 member states of the ILO have so far ratified. There is no procedure for ratifying an ILO recommendation. The United Kingdom is addressing the issue of seafarers' welfare by participating actively in ILO discussions aimed at consolidating the existing body of ILO maritime instruments within a new single instrument.
	A total of 65 ILO conventions, including all of the 'core' ILO conventions, which cover freedom of association and the right to organise and collective bargaining; the elimination of forced and child labour; and the ending of discrimination in employment, are in force in the UK. We also observe in principle many of the requirements of unratified conventions. The ILO has recognised the need to keep its instruments under review and recently withdrew or shelved 27 out of date conventions, while next year's conference will consider the withdrawal of 16 out of date recommendations. The ILO has also recognised the importance of a coherent approach to labour standards including through the proposed new consolidated maritime instrument and the general discussion at this year's International Labour Conference which for the first time was based on an integrated approach, taking account of all existing ILO instruments in the area of occupational safety and health.
	The table shows the ILO conventions which the United Kingdom has not ratified or has ratified and subsequently denounced. In recent years a number of conventions have been denounced automatically due to ratification of new, more up-to-date conventions which subsume the requirements of earlier instruments. We will continue to review unratified conventions.
	
		ILO conventions which UK has not ratified or has ratified and subsequently denounced
		
			 Conventionnumber Date of adoption Title Denounced 
		
		
			 1 1919 Hours of Work (Industry)  
			 3 1919 Maternity Protection  
			 4 1919 Night Work (women) 25.01.1937 
			 5 1919 Minimum Age (Industry) 07.06.2000 
			 6 1919 Night Work Of Young Persons (Industry) 04.10.1947 
			 7 1920 Minimum Age (Sea) 07.06.2000 
			 9 1920 Placing of Seamen  
			 10 1921 Minimum Age (Agriculture) 07.06.2000 
			 13 1921 White Lead (Painting)  
			 14 1921 Weekly Rest (Industry)  
			 15 1921 Minimum Age (Trimmers and Stokers) 07.06.2000 
			 18 1925 Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) 29.04.1936 
			 26 1928 Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery 25.07.1985 
			 27 1929 Marking of Weight (Packages Transported by Vessels)  
			 30 1930 Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices)  
			 33 1932 Minimum Age (Non-Industrial Employment)  
			 41 1934 Night Work (Women) (Revised) 04.10.1947 
			 45 1935 Underground Work (Women) 26.05.1988 
			 47 1935 Forty-Hour Week  
			 52 1936 Holidays with Pay  
			 53 1936 Officers' Competency Certificates  
			 54 1936 Holidays with Pay (Sea)  
			 55 1936 Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen)  
			 57 1936 Hours of Work and Manning (Sea)  
			 58 1936 Minimum Age (Sea) (Revised)  
			 59 1937 Minimum Age (Industry) (Revised)  
			 62 1937 Safety Provisions (Building)  
			 63 1938 Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work 27.05.1987 
			 71 1946 Seafarers' Pensions  
			 72 1946 Paid Vacations (Seafarers)  
			 73 1946 Medical Examination (Seafarers )  
			 75 1946 Accommodation of Crews  
			 76 1946 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea)  
			 77 1946 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry)  
			 78 1946 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations)  
			 79 1946 Night Work of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations)  
			 88 1948 Employment Service 06.08.1971 
			 89 1948 Night Work (Women) (Revised)  
			 90 1948 Night Work of Young Persons (Industry) (Revised)  
			 93 1949 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) (Revised)  
			 94 1949 Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) 20.09.1982 
			 95 1949 Protection of Wages 16.09.1983 
			 96 1949 Fee-Charging Employment Agencies (Revised)  
			 99 1951 Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery (Agriculture) 16.08.1994 
			 101 1952 Holiday with Pay (Agriculture). 16.08.1994 
			 103 1952 Maternity Protection (Revised)  
			 106 1957 Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices)  
			 107 1957 Indigenous and Tribal Populations  
			 109 1958 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) (Revised)  
			 110 1958 Plantations  
			 112 1959 Minimum Age (Fishermen)  
			 113 1959 Medical Examination (Fishermen)  
			 117 1962 Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards)  
			 118 1962 Equality of Treatment (Social Security  
			 119 1963 Guarding of Machinery  
			 121 1964 Employment Injury Benefits  
			 123 1965 Minimum Age (Underground Work)  
			 125 1966 Fishermen's Competency Certificates  
			 127 1967 Maximum Weight  
			 128 1967 Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits  
			 129 1969 Labour Inspection (Agriculture)  
			 130 1969 Medical Care and Sickness Benefits  
			 131 1970 Minimum Wage Fixing  
			 132 1970 Holidays with Pay (Revised)  
			 134 1970 Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers)  
			 136 1971 Benzene  
			 137 1973 Dock Work  
			 139 1974 Occupational Cancer  
			 143 1975 Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions)  
			 145 1976 Continuity of Employment (Seafarers)  
			 146 1976 Seafarers' Annual Leave with Pay  
			 149 1977 Nursing Personnel  
			 152 1979 Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work)  
			 153 1979 Hours of Work and Rest Periods (Road Transport)  
			 154 1981 Collective Bargaining  
			 155 1981 Occupational Safety and Health  
			 156 1981 Workers with Family Responsibilities  
			 157 1982 Maintenance of Social Security Rights  
			 158 1982 Termination of Employment  
			 159 1983 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons)  
			 161 1985 Occupational Health Services  
			 162 1986 Asbestos Convention  
			 163 1987 Seafarers' Welfare  
			 164 1987 Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers)  
			 165 1987 Social Security (Seafarers) (Revised)  
			 166 1987 Repatriation of Seafarers (Revised)  
			 167 1988 Safety and Health in Construction.  
			 168 1988 Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment.  
			 169 1989 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples  
			 170 1990 Chemicals  
			 171 1990 Night Work  
			 172 1991 Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants)  
			 173 1992 Protection of Workers' Claims (Employer's Insolvency)  
			 174 1993 Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents  
			 175 1994 Part-Time Work  
			 176 1995 Safety and Health in Mines  
			 177 1996 Home Work  
			 179 1996 Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers  
			 181 1997 Private Employment Agencies  
			 183 2000 Maternity Protection  
			 184 2001 Safety and Health in Agriculture  
			 185 2003 Seafarers' Identity Documents  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Conventions 5, 7, 10, and 15 were denounced as a result of ratification of the Minimum Age Convention 138 (1973).
	2. Convention 63 was denounced as a result of ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention 160 (1985).
	3. Convention 18 was denounced on ratification of the revised Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention 42 (1934).

Employment (People with Learning Disabilities)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many adults with a learning disability were in unpaid employment in England for each year since 1997; what percentage this represents of people with a learning disability known to social services; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

Employment (People with Learning Disabilities)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the Government schemes intended to help adults with a learning disability move into paid employment; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Adults with learning disabilities are able to access the full range of services provided by Jobcentre Plus. In addition Jobcentre Plus offers a range of programmes specifically tailored to the needs of disabled customers. These are, Access to Work, Work Preparation, Workstep and New Deal for Disabled People. These programmes are all aimed to help customers with disabilities, including learning disabilities, move into paid employment.
	Access to these programmes is through Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs), who are based in Jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus offices. DEAs work closely with employers, employees and disabled people looking for work.
	Workstep is the employment programme most suitable for many people with learning disabilities. Workstep provides tailored support for people with disabilities who have more complex barriers to finding and keeping work. It provides the support and opportunity for people to progress to unsupported employment where this is the right option for the individual. Of the 21,500 people accessing support through Workstep, 37 per cent. have a learning disability.

Pensioners (Means-tested Benefits)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of pensioners were in receipt of means-tested benefits for each year between 1992 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The answer is in the table.
	
		Pensioner beneficiaries of means-tested benefits(10) as a percentage of the population: Great Britain May 1992 to May 1999
		
			  Beneficiaries aged 60 and over of means-tested benefits Percentage of the population aged 60 and over 
		
		
			 1992 Not available Not available 
			 1993 4,320,000 36.9 
			 1994 4,180,000 35.8 
			 1995 4,060,000 34.7 
			 1996 3,940,000 33.6 
			 1997 3,810,000 32.5 
			 1998 3,670,000 31.1 
			 1999 3,540,000 29.9 
			 2000 3,420,000 28.7 
			 2001 3,380,000 28.3 
			 2002 3,290,000 27.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From 1993 to 1999 means-tested benefits included in the table are Income Support (IS), Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) (JSA(IB)), Housing Benefit (HB), Community Charge Benefit (CCB)/Council Tax Benefit (CTB), Family Credit (FC) and Disability Working Allowance (DWA).
	2. From 2000 to 2002 means-tested benefits included in the table are IS, JSA(IB), HB and CCB/CTB. FC and DWA were replaced by Working Families Tax Credit and Disabled Persons Tax Credit in October 1999 and are therefore not included in the figures for 2000, 2001 and 2002.
	3. Overlaps between benefits have been removed.
	4. Great Britain HB/CTB figures include estimates for local authorities that have not responded.
	5. CTB data excludes Second Adult Rebate cases.
	6. HB data excludes any Extended Payment cases.
	7. Percentage for population has been calculated using the revised ONS population estimates for age group 60 and over, for 1993 to 2001.
	8. Figures (except DWA) are based on 1 per cent. and 5 per cent. samples and therefore subject to sampling variation.
	9. Beneficiaries of a benefit unit are the sum of claimants and their partners.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre 5 per cent. and 1 per cent. samples

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets he has set for converting Minimum Income Guarantee claimants to Pension Credit.

Chris Pond: The Department has a Service Delivery Agreement to maximise payments of Pension Credit from October 2003 by, among other measures, converting all existing Minimum Income Guarantee recipients automatically to Pension Credit. The process of conversion is on course to be completed by October 2003.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many operators work on the Pension Credit telephone application line; and what plans he has to increase this number;
	(2)  how many call centres deal with Pension Credit telephone applications; and what their locations are;
	(3)  whether calls to the Pension Credit telephone application line will be handled by private contractors.

Chris Pond: The Pension Credit application line currently has just over 1,100 whole-time equivalent staff, rising to around 1,500 when Pension Credit is implemented in October 2003. The application line is based at four sites in Cardiff, Dearne Valley, Derby and Newcastle. The Pension Service is working in partnership with Ventura, an experienced provider of contact centre services. Ventura is providing expertise in the running of the operation and also providing the staff and facilities to handle calls at the Dearne Valley site.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who has been awarded the contract for developing the new IT system to deliver Pension Credit; what the estimated contract value is; and on what date he expects the system to become operational.

Chris Pond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 8 July 2003, Official Report, column 762W.

Pension Credit

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates will benefit from the pensioners' credit in Eltham; and what the average gain will be per pensioner (a) in the UK and (b) in Eltham.

Chris Pond: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
	Estimates of Pension Credit entitlement are not available at individual constituency level due to insufficient sample cases in the survey data used. However, around half of all pensioner households nationally will be eligible for Pension Credit, and the average gain per year will be around £400.

Pension Credit

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage pensioners to claim the pensioners' credit.

Chris Pond: The Pension Service began writing to pensioner households in April, to explain Pension Credit and to invite advance applications. In addition, around 1.8 million people in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee have been told that they will be transferred automatically to Pension Credit ready for payments to be made from October 2003. By June 2004, all pensioner households will have been contacted. These direct mail arrangements are being supported by a national TV and press advertising campaign, which began on 3 September. The Pension Service is also working with partner organisations at national and local level to encourage take-up of the new entitlement. The Pension Credit freephone application line, which became operational on 7 April, enables our trained staff to help pensioners through the application form and complete it for them over the telephone. Friends and family can use the application line and apply on a pensioner's behalf.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Agriculture Training

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of the workforce in agriculture hold vocational qualifications at NVQ Level 3 or higher in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Information is not available on numbers in the total agricultural labour force with vocational qualifications at NVQ Level 3 or higher. The information that is available is summarised as follows.
	The social survey of farmers and farm families (excluding hired workers) carried out in 2000–01 indicated that:
	7,029 farmers and regular family workers on family farms (18.9 per cent. of total) had general qualifications (excl. apprenticeships) at or above NVQ Level 3 or equivalent—as well as vocational qualifications in all disciplines, this includes "A" Levels and other non-vocational qualifications;
	9,347 farmers and regular family workers on family farms (25.1 per cent. of total) had general qualifications (incl. apprenticeships) at or above NVQ Level 3 or equivalent;
	2,131 farmers and regular family workers on family farms (5.7 per cent. of total) had agricultural qualifications at or above NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
	In 2000, the EU Farm Structure Survey indicated that 3,888 farmers, family and regular hired workers (6.4 per cent. of workforce) had undertaken a formal agricultural course of less than two years and 2,101 people (3.5 per cent. of workforce) had undertaken a formal agricultural course of more than two years duration. However there was no assessment of level of qualification.

Agriculture Training

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many business development training places for farmers there were in each Northern Ireland constituency in the last year for which figures are available. [R]

Ian Pearson: During the 2002–03 financial year a total of 3,617 business development training places were available for farmers on the Good Business Sense training programme.
	The management information system operated by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise cannot allocate the total places available according to Northern Ireland constituency. The following table illustrates the breakdown according to county.
	
		Number of training places provided per county
		
			  Good business sense 
		
		
			 County Antrim 482 
			 County Armagh 420 
			 County Down 900 
			 County Fermanagh 765 
			 County Londonderry 300 
			 County Tyrone 750 
			 Total training places 3,617

Autism Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to standardise the services available to sufferers of autism in different parts of Northern Ireland, with particular reference to applied behaviour analysis provision for schoolchildren.

Jane Kennedy: Children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represent a continuum of need, ranging from mild impairments, to the more severe. The Education and Library Boards (ELBs) provide specialised support to schools with pupils with ASD and the Department of Education is aware that there is a degree of variation in assessment and provision across the Province. Work is currently under way between the Department and the ELBs in order to standardise practice by producing criteria which will be common across the board areas.
	In line with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's "Priorities for Action 2003/04" the Health and Social Services Trusts, in consultation with the ELBs, are developing costed proposals to enhance diagnostic, assessment and support services.
	Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is one of a range of interventions used in working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and all of the Boards' Educational Psychologists receive training in ABA techniques as part of their degree qualification.
	The Report of the Task Group on Autism, published in May 2002 states that:
	"The Task Group finds preference for no single approach but concludes that single methods by themselves may not address effectively the triad of impairments associated with ASD. The Group concludes that intervention programmes should be child-centred rather than method-centred, and should address the observed and unique needs of the child and any variation in these which occurs over time and across settings and situations."

Autism Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 194W, on autism, whether the proposed Centre of Excellence for Autism will provide regular respite care for sufferers across the province.

Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to offer respite care for parents and children with Autism at the proposed Centre of Excellence. The centre is planned as an educational facility.

Beef Exports

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total tonnage of beef exports in Northern Ireland was in each of the last seven years.

Ian Pearson: There has been only limited exports of beef from Northern Ireland in each of the last seven years. Exports of 260 and 400 tonnes were made under the Export Certified Herd Scheme in 1998 and 1999 respectively. Northern Ireland companies have either recently been approved, or are at an advanced stage leading to approval, under the Date Based Export Scheme. To date, only an insignificant tonnage of beef has been exported but it is expected that volumes will increase as new contracts are secured and more companies are fully approved in the coming months.

BSE

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to achieve separate moderate BSE status for Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Until last week the definition of BSE moderate risk status was 100 BSE positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. Northern Ireland incidence of positive cases of BSE for the period May 2002 to April 2003 is 112 positive cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months. In view of this incidence level it was not possible for Northern Ireland to seek separate BSE moderate risk status.
	At the Annual General Meeting of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) in Paris on 18–23 May, the EU proposed and the OIE accepted that, taking into consideration the active BSE monitoring programmes in place, and their efficiency at detecting BSE cases, the definition of "moderate risk status" should be doubled to 200 cases per million adult cattle aged over 24 months .
	The current BSE incidence rate in the UK is above the 200 cases per million requirement but on current trends should drop below the 200 cases threshold by the end of the year. Taking Northern Ireland alone, we are already below the 200 threshold.
	While the development at OIE is welcome, before the UK or any region can be classified as having moderate risk status, this needs to be recognised in EU legislation. This may not necessarily be straightforward.
	Discussions are taking place with the European Commission on how best to present a case that all the criteria for moderate risk status are met. This is being taken forward on a UK basis but I will wish to consider making a separate case for Northern Ireland if progress on the UK case is delayed.

Causeway Health and Social Services Trust

John Hume: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments have been made by the Causeway HSS Trust to former employees of the Trust, by way of settlement for cessation of employment for reasons other than age retirement or retirement on medical grounds; when each payment was made; what the individual amount of each payment was; and for what the payments were made, in financial years (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03.

Angela Smith: The details requested are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Date of payment Amount Purpose 
		
		
			 2001–02   
			 January 2002 22,034 Redundancy  
			 March 2002 4,250 Constructive dismissal settlement 
			
			 2002–03   
			 February 2003 1,500 Unfair dismissal settlement  
			 March 2003 1,750 Constructive dismissal settlement 
			 February 2003 750 Unfair dismissal settlement

Mature Students (Child Care Support)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Irelands how many mature students are in receipt of child care grants in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: In the 2002/03 academic year, 135 mature students aged 25 or over and domiciled in Northern Ireland received the grant in accordance with the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland).

Child Support Agency

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many instances the Child Support Agency in Northern Ireland has recorded of (a) deliberate evasive action to prevent the agency securing maintenance payments through (i) deduction from earnings and (ii) deduction from benefits and (b) preventing court action for enforcement through non-co-operation.

Des Browne: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency. I have asked the chief executive to respond to the hon. Gentleman's question directly. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Freedom of Information

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the electronic document and electronic record management systems which have been procured by the public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which he is responsible.

Paul Murphy: The following NI public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which I am responsible have procured Electronic Document and Records Management Systems.
	The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment purchased 50 licences for electronic document and record management (EDRM) software from Objective Corporation UK Ltd. in February 2003 to support the implementation of the Department's first major e-business project in Corporate Regulation Branch.
	Invest NI, having tendered for supply of an EDRM system, have selected and purchased Meridio release 3.3 from Meridio Ltd. in March 2003.

Entrepreneurship/Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to promote greater integration of entrepreneurship and education in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: In March 2003, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, published "Enterprising Education"—the Entrepreneurship and Education Action Plan.
	Fully integrating entrepreneurship and education will take time and concentrated effort by a range of key stakeholders. The primary purpose of Enterprising Education is to establish an initial framework of action to provide a strong foundation for moving forward the integration process. The long-term goal is to ensure that every learner, including life-long learners, is given the opportunity to build the skills and develop the attributes which equip any individual to make a unique, innovative and creative contribution in the world of work.
	The Action Plan, which will establish benchmarks, is the first stage in a longer-term process and will inform future decision-making. Progress will be reviewed on an annual basis and each Department will continue to promote the benefits of strengthening business/education links within their respective Departments and the wider circles in which they operate.
	A copy of the Action Plan can be viewed or downloaded at www.detini.gov.uk.

Environmental Appraisals

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the Department's policies have been screened for their environmental impact since June 2001; how many environmental appraisals have been conducted, and on what policy issues; and what information has been published about these screenings and appraisals.

Angela Smith: Since June 2001, Northern Ireland Departments have carried out 37 regulatory impact assessments of policies associated with a range of legislative proposals. However, to date, there have been no free standing environmental appraisals of departmental policies.

Sport Funding

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public funding was allocated to (a) soccer, (b) Gaelic games, (c) rugby and (d) cricket in Northern Ireland in the last five years.

Angela Smith: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland (SCNI) is responsible for the development of Sport in NI including the distribution of public funding to individual sports.
	The following tables provides information from each source of funding distributed by SCNI for the five year period 1998–2003 for the four sports of soccer, Gaelic games, rugby and cricket.
	
		Exchequer funding -- £
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Soccer 50,000 50,000 50,000 59,000 
			 (10)100,000 52,500 
			 (10)500,000 261,500 
			 600,000 
			 Gaelic games 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 45,000 165,000 
			 Rugby 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 24,000 88,000 
			 Cricket 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 26,330 106,330 
			 Total 116,000 116,000 116,000 225,000 647,830 1,220,830 
		
	
	(10) These figures indicate the funds allocated to Soccer from the Football Development Centre Programme for 2001–02 and 2002–03.
	
		Lottery funding -- £
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Soccer 677,073 816,616 942,492 642,710 609,131 3,688,022 
			 Gaelic games 2,703,811 1,303,185 1,694,182 1,025,420 689,962 7,416,560 
			 Rugby 155,526 100,784 312,053 144,000 76,860 789,223 
			 Cricket 215,298 212,837 282,500 57,202 16,000 783,837 
			 Total 3,751,708 2,433,422 3,231,227 1,869,332 1,391,953 12,677,642 
		
	
	Safe Sports Grounds
	The money provided by the Safe Sports Ground Programme was made available from financial year 2000–01 for the three sports of soccer, Gaelic games and rugby. The following table shows the funding that was allocated for these sports for the three-year period 1 April 2000–31 March 2003.
	
		£
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Soccer — — 1,206,809 784,003 415,188 2,406,000 
			 Gaelic games — — 622,085 350,833 507,082 1,480,000 
			 Rugby — — 136,843 140,612 68,536 345,991 
			 Total — — 1,965,737 1,275,448 990,806 4,231,991 
		
	
	Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP)
	The following table shows the total allocation from EU Structural Funds from 1998 to date across various departments, for the four sports. DFP has worked under the assumption that public funding encapsulates funding through the public purse, including EU structural funds.
	
		£
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003 to date Total  
		
		
			 Soccer 6,325 17,984 — 159,500 — (11)10,800 194,609 
			 Gaelic games 304,005 10,000 1,000 — — — 315,005 
			 Rugby — 6,500 — — — — 6,500 
			 Cricket — 25,250 — — — — 25,250 
			 Total 310,330 59,734 1,000 159,500 — 10,800 541,364 
		
	
	(11) This figure of £10,800 reflects the award allocated by DFP for soccer from 2003 to date, this award was made under the Measure 3.2 of the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
	Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)
	The following table details DARD's funding for the four sports for five-year period 1998–2003. In addition to the figures provided in the table, DARD has allocated £899 in 1998–99 for sport in general, including soccer and cricket, DARD have been unable to provide a detailed breakdown of this amount in respect of each sport referred to.
	
		£
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Soccer 1,270 2,835 — — — 4,105 
			 Gaelic games — (12)45 8,557 1,885 (12)11,118 21,605 
			 Rugby (12)606 (13)1,760 — (12)1,878 — 4,244 
			 Cricket — — 4,067 — — 4,067 
			 Total 1,876 4,640 12,624 3,763 11,118 34,021 
		
	
	(12) This expenditure relates to grants payable under the Woodland Grant Scheme, which encourages the creation of new woodland and the sustainable management of existing woodland.
	(13) This amount was allocated to a Gaelic athletic club to help in the promotion of rugby through coaching and exhibition match.
	
		Department of Education -- £
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Soccer 422.06 857.31 102.00 — — 1,381.37 
			 Gaelic games 300.00 — — — — 300.00 
			 Total 722.06 857.31 102.00 — — 1,681.37 
		
	
	Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI)
	The following table details the grant payments made by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) for each of the four sports for the periods in question.
	
		£
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total  
		
		
			 Soccer 6,750 6,400 7,200 8,800 13,500 42,650 
			 Gaelic games — — — 500 — 500 
			 Rugby 680 600 — — — 1,280 
			 Cricket — 1,500 — 2,000 — 3,500 
			 Total 7,430 8,500 7,200 11,300 13,500 47,930

Health

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage uptake rates were of (a) primary immunisation, (b) breast screening and (c) cervical screening in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: (a) The uptake rates for primary immunisation at 12 months and 24 months in the October/December quarter for each of the last three years were as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 At 12 months  
			 October/December 2000 93.88 
			 October/December 2001 94.60 
			 October/December 2002 94.35 
			   
			 At 24 months  
			 October/December 2000 96.18 
			 October/December 2001 95.86 
			 October/December 2002 96.73

Health

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultations there were for the mentally ill in the community in each Northern Ireland health trust in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not available.
	Estimates for the financial year 2001–02 suggest that there were approximately 186,000 contacts with the mentally ill by community psychiatric nurses. In addition, there were approximately 27,500 contacts with the mentally ill by clinical psychologists in either a community or a hospital setting.

Health

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) child and (b) adolescent in-patient psychiatric beds there were in each Northern Ireland health trust in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The table shows the average number of available beds open overnight by health trust in the child and adolescent psychiatric specialty. It is not possible to supply data for children and adolescents separately.
	
		
			 Trust 2000–01 2001–02 (14)2002–03 
		
		
			 Green Park 20.0 20.0 20.0 
			 South and East Belfast 6.0 6.0 10.5 
			 Northern Ireland Total 26.0 26.0 30.5 
		
	
	(14) Provisional

High Technology/Telecommunications Industries

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to support Northern Ireland's (a) existing and (b) new (i) high technology and (ii) telecommunications industry and entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Invest NI has focused significant resources in these areas in its overall drive to support existing companies to become more innovative and competitive and to encourage the formation of new, entrepreneurial, business starts. Support for existing hi-tech and telecommunications companies during 2002–03 resulted in companies bringing forward business proposals representing a total investment of almost £109 million, against which Invest NI offered £14.3 million in support. In addition, the Agency assisted the formation of 74 new, potentially high growth companies in these sectors.
	In driving forward this work, Invest NI uses a broad range of measures designed to help all companies, both existing and new starts, increase their capability. These include fostering greater innovation, increasing levels of R&D, developing external trade and utilising a variety of other business improvement tools.
	During its first year of operation, Invest NI played a key role in establishing the Northern Ireland Science Park and it also provided £26 million to assist the establishment of 17 centres of research excellence, the majority of which are focused on high technology sectors. In addition, Invest NI has drawn up a series of Sector Strategies aimed at maximizing the economic development potential for a range of industrial sectors including hi-tech and telecoms.
	This work provides an important demonstration of Invest NI's commitment to engage with companies, higher and further education establishments, centres of research excellence, science parks and other research organisations in developing hi-tech start-up businesses. In addition Invest NI is working closely with the education sector and others to encourage entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.

Horses

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether horses in Northern Ireland are defined as agricultural animals by Northern Ireland Departments; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Ian Pearson: Under NI legislation, the horse is not classified as an agricultural animal. This mirrors the position in the other parts of the UK.
	The Report "Vision for the future of the agri-food industry" included a number of recommendations relating to the equine sector. One of these was that the redesignation of the horse as an agricultural animal should be pursued in the longer term. In the Vision Action Plan which I published in November 2002, I highlighted that there were wider issues to consider and that these would be discussed with the industry in due course.
	I have recently established an Equine Stakeholder Group, one of whose early tasks will be to advise on a comprehensive study of the equine industry in Northern Ireland. This will run in tandem with a similar study in Great Britain. The designation of the horse will be an aspect of both studies.
	The overall rating system in Northern Ireland is currently subject to a major policy review. A Policy paper on existing and potential non-domestic reliefs and exemptions will be published in late autumn. That paper will include consideration of the need for the introduction of any exemption or relief for the equine industry.

Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further steps will be taken by the (a) Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and (b) Eastern Health and Social Services Board to address the funding imbalance of the Down Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: A target has been set, by the Department, in "Priorities for Action 2003–04", that all HSS Boards should have strategies to address locality equity issues prepared by March 2004 and work is ongoing on this. I understand that the Eastern Health and Social Services Board intend to publish their latest assessment of the locality equity position within their area in the autumn. It is their policy, endorsed by the Department, to ensure that existing services are maintained and to address equity issues by levelling up resources through skewing new money to populations that are currently receiving less than their target share. For example the population of the Down Lisburn area gained by some £1.5 million through such a skewing strategy in 2003–04. It should be noted that equity assessments are based on the needs of a population living in an area and not on the funding of any specific Trust.
	Locality equity is a priority for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety but it must be balanced by the need to ensure that existing service provision is not destabilised. This results in change being phased in over a period, usually some 3–4 years.

Literacy/Numeracy

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken by Northern Ireland Departments to address adult basic literacy and numeracy problems; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) launched the Essential Skills for Living Strategy and Action Plan in October 2002. The strategy aims to support 25,000 adults to improve their literacy and numeracy skills by 2005.
	The Department has established an Essential Skills Committee comprising key stakeholders from Government Departments, business and industry, the further education sector and the voluntary and community sector to take the strategy forward. It has developed also a framework of qualifications through the universities for all levels of essential skills tutors. During 2002–03, Queens University successfully delivered the Certificate in Management and Teaching of Literacy to 70 tutors and a further 66 have enrolled for the course in 2003–04. The Department launched a major promotional campaign in May 2003, with the aim of engaging a wide range of learners to improve their essential skills.
	Plans are in place to liaise with the Northern Ireland Departments to ensure essential skills is taken into account in the design and delivery of their policies and programmes. The Department of Finance and Personnel, for example, is developing a strategy and action plan for the delivery of essential skills throughout the Northern Ireland civil service. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has worked with DEL to enhance essential skills provision for prisoners and the Social Security Agency has been actively involved in considering new approaches to encourage benefit claimants to improve their essential skills. Pilot exercises using financial incentives and new essential skills screening tools are planned for January 2004.

Northern Ireland Fishing Task Force

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Northern Ireland Fishing Task Force; and when it intends to publish its overall findings.

Ian Pearson: As a response to the December 2002 EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council decision, and the NI fishing community's reaction to it, I set up in January a Taskforce for South Down which is made up of officials from relevant NI Government departments, local councils and representatives of both the fish producers and processors to consider the wider socio-economic effects of the Council decisions and to identify whether there were more steps Government might take to address particular difficulties.
	To help inform its work, the Taskforce undertook a consultation exercise with public meetings in Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie. In addition Taskforce representatives have met with the Tri-Council Fisheries Working Group and with the NI Fisheries Harbour Authority. The Taskforce has also received 15 written submissions. A survey of producers and processors is also being undertaken to obtain information and views from the industry.
	The Taskforce will be assessing all the information collected and views received with a view to publishing its findings in the summer.
	Finally, the Taskforce will also be following closely the work of the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit established by the Prime Minister to look at the medium to long-term issues facing the UK sea fishing industry. I am a member pf the Steering Group for this exercise. Along with the local representatives on the Stakeholder Advisory Group I shall ensure that the Northern Ireland perspective is properly covered in the Strategy Unit's work.

Policing Board/Northern IrelandHuman Rights Commission

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding between the Policing Board and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and if he will place a copy of the memorandum in the Library.

Jane Kennedy: The Policing Board is committed to developing and maintaining effective working relationships with all other statutory authorities, including the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. It is committed to meeting its statutory duty of carrying out all its functions having regard to the need to co-ordinate its activities and co-operate with other statutory authorities.
	The Policing Board has not entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with any statutory authority and is content that it can play its part in maintaining working relationships, including with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, without the need for a Memorandum of Understanding.
	This issue was most recently discussed at a meeting between representatives of the Policing Board and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission when both parties gave a commitment to follow good practice in sharing relevant documents and research; where appropriate to consult over and above legislative requirements, and to assist one another in the fulfilment of those statutory duties that relate to human rights issues.

Primary Schools

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the proportion of funding to the primary school sector; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Government recognises that the current differential in funding between primary and post-primary funding in Northern Ireland is too wide. The Local Management of Schools Common Formula, scheduled to come into operation in April 2004, contains a number of factors by which resources can be more effectively targeted and it is intended to use these over the initial years of the formula to reduce the funding differential.
	In recognition of the issue the Budget Addition allocations for 2003–04, given to schools on top of their formula budget, were for the first time weighted in favour of the primary sector. This has resulted in an additional £1 million being provided for primary schools this year.

Road Safety

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road accident fatalities there were in each of the past 10 years; and how many there were in the UK.

Angela Smith: The table provides information on the number of road fatalities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the past 10 years.
	
		Fatal casualties 1992–2002
		
			  Great Britain Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 1992 4,229 150 
			 1993 3,814 143 
			 1994 3,650 157 
			 1995 3,621 144 
			 1996 3,598 142 
			 1997 3,599 144 
			 1998 3,421 160 
			 1999 3,423 141 
			 2000 3,409 171 
			 2001 3,450 148 
			 2002 3,431 150

School Examinations

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the timetable is for the replacement of the eleven plus examination in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: I announced on 24 April 2003 the establishment of a Working Group to provide advice and recommendations on options for future arrangements for post-primary education, including the development of alternative transfer arrangements with a view to the current transfer tests being withdrawn as soon as practicable. The Working Group will report by 31 October 2003.
	Pupils currently in P5 and P6 will sit the existing Transfer Tests and decisions about transfer arrangements for subsequent cohorts of pupils will be taken when the advice of the Working Group has been considered. Parents and teachers of pupils currently in P4 will be advised in good time of their transfer arrangements.

Schools Finance

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the difference in funding per pupil is between primary schools and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland; and what recent representations he has received on the difference in funding.

Jane Kennedy: In 2001–02 financial year the difference in funding per pupil between primary and post-primary schools in Northern Ireland was £934.
	Department officials met with a delegation from the Primary Principals' Association of Northern Ireland on 25 March 2003 and a number of letters have also been received from elected representatives, primary schools and parents of primary school pupils.

Social Security Appeal Tribunals

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to ensure that social security appeal tribunals which have to be re-listed are not delayed because of the non-availability of panel members; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Appeals Service (NI) is required to re-list all adjourned appeals before the same Tribunal panel following a Direction from the President of Appeal Tribunals. As a result of additional resources being allocated to The Appeals Service (NI) and the appointment of 25 additional Tribunal members the average clearance time for all appeal types has reduced from 22 weeks during April 2002 to 16 weeks during March 2003. The Appeals Service (NI) is currently reviewing the procedures for the re-listing of appeals that have previously been adjourned to further reduce the time taken to reach a final determination and to prioritise appeals that have to be re-listed before the same Tribunal.

Sports Funding

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 9 April 2003, Official Report, column 251W, why funding has not been allocated to the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation in the last three years.

Angela Smith: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has not allocated any funding to the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation over the last three years because it is not the recognised governing body of cycling within Northern Ireland.

Stevens Inquiry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the overview and recommendations of the report by Sir John Stevens on the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane, published on 17 April.

Paul Murphy: Sir John Stevens's report is to the Chief Constable and he will no doubt wish to study it. We will also be examining his findings most carefully.
	Sir John has indicated that specific criminal investigations continue and that files will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (NI). The criminal justice process must take its course.

Teachers

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teaching posts will be lost in the primary sector in the next 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information is not yet available. Decisions on staffing levels are taken by the Boards of Governors of individual schools.

Teachers

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teaching posts were lost in each year since 1997 in each education and library board.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information is only available for the period 1999/2000–2001/02. For completeness the number of posts gained is also given.
	
		
			 Education and Decrease in number of full time teachers in schools losing posts Increase in number of full-time equivalent teachers in schools gaining posts Net change in number of full-time equivalent teachers 
			 Library Board Area 1999/2000–2000/01 2000/01–2001/02 1999/2000–2000/01 2000/01–2001/02 1999/2000–2000/01 2000/01–2001/02 
		
		
			 (a) Primary schools   
			 Belfast 67.2 79.2 54.7 40.4 -12.5 -38.8 
			 Western 70.2 70.1 64.5 87.2 -5.7 +17.1 
			 North-Eastern 86.6 65.5 72.4 117.1 -14.2 +51.6 
			 South-Eastern 60.7 61.1 93.7 97.9 +33.0 +36.8 
			 Southern 100.6 101.8 90.5 74.3 -10.1 -27.5 
			  (b) Secondary schools 
			 Belfast 31.0 35.3 68.5 68.5 +37.5 +33.2 
			 Western 22.6 51.1 76.5 29.8 +53.9 -21.3 
			 North-Eastern 37.2 31.6 71.3 69.4 +34.1 +37.8 
			 South-Eastern 21.3 30.6 72.4 60.5 +51.1 +29.9 
			 Southern 27.6 58.1 49.8 40.6 +22.2 +17.5

Ulster Scots Academy

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in making available support for an Ulster-Scots Academy.

Angela Smith: Officials are currently considering options for ensuring that the commitment in the Joint Declaration by the British and Irish Governments in April 2003 is fulfilled. Officials will make recommendations to Ministers in due course.

SCOTLAND

Beef Farming

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed in the beef farming industry in Scotland; when he last met representatives of the Scottish beef farming industry; and what his assessment is of its prospects.

Anne McGuire: The Scottish Executive's agricultural census in 2002 recorded 32,608 people working on Scottish farms with beef cattle.
	Agriculture policy in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive; representatives of the agriculture sector, including the beef farming industry, regularly meet Scottish Executive Ministers. The reformed Common Agricultural Policy announced on 26 June provides the basis for a sustainable future for the beef industry in Scotland.

Fishing Industry

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many are employed in the fishing industry in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: Fisheries Departments estimate that there were 5,707 full and part-time fishermen working in Scotland at the end of 2002. Estimates of employment in the fish processing industry are produced as part of the economic surveys carried out by the Sea Fish Industry Authority, whose latest estimate is that the processing industry in Scotland supports 7,200 full-time equivalent jobs.

Official Engagements

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official engagements he has undertaken as Secretary of State for Scotland since his appointment.

Alistair Darling: I have undertaken a number of official engagements since my appointment as Secretary of State for Scotland and I will continue to do so.

Over-30-months Scheme

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he was consulted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs prior to the decision to lift the Over Thirty Month Scheme in 2004.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues.

Quality Meat Scotland

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the transfer to the Scottish Executive of Quality Meat Scotland; and what payments are outstanding to (a) Quality Meat Scotland and (b) the Scottish Executive in respect of the transfer.

Anne McGuire: These are matters for the Scottish Executive.

Sewel Motions

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many requests for Sewel motions have been exchanged between the Scottish Executive and his Department since 1999; how many have been rejected; when they were rejected; for what reasons; and what plans the Government has to review the procedures for dealing with Sewel motions.

Anne McGuire: Responsibility for tabling and the terms of Sewel motions rests with the Scottish Executive under the Memorandum of Understanding. Discussions with the Scottish Executive on Sewel motions are a normal part of the development of the legislative programme. To date, 43 Sewel motions have been agreed to by the Scottish Parliament since devolution.
	The Government keep all procedures in relation to the devolution settlement under review.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Air Weapons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries involving air weapons there were in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many criminal offences, broken down by category, involving (a) replica guns and (b) air weapons, there were in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The latest available numbers of recorded crimes by offence category in which imitation weapons and air weapons were used are given in the tables. A weapon is said to be used in an offence if it is fired, used as a blunt instrument or in a threat.
	
		Number of offences in which imitation weapons were used
		
			  Violence against the person Robbery Burglary Criminal damage Other offences 
		
		
			 1997(15) 268 186 16 3 38 
			 1998–99 354 163 14 2 33 
			 1999–2000 495 228 22 3 65 
			 2000–01 494 227 15 17 34 
			 2001–02 773 277 31 87 33 
		
	
	(15) Calendar year; other years to end of March
	
		Number of offences in which air weapons were used
		
			  Violence against the person Robbery Burglary Criminal damage Other offences 
		
		
			 1997(16) 1,449 99 51 5,798 109 
			 1998–99 1,937 83 81 6,362 202 
			 1999–2000 2,438 91 20 7,330 224 
			 2000–01 2,217 116 32 7,674 188 
			 2001–02 2,366 161 22 9,559 232 
		
	
	(16) Calendar year; other years to end of March
	There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which would have had the effect of increasing the number of offences counted. Similarly, some police forces adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of its national implementation on 1 April 2002, and this may also have tended to increase the number of crimes counted, particularly in 2001–02.
	The number of deaths and injuries resulting from recorded air weapon offences in the last five years are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Fatal injuries Serious injuries(17) Slight injuries 
		
		
			 1997 0 129 1,065 
			 1998–99 0 133 1,381 
			 1999–2000 0 171 1,806 
			 2000–01 1 166 1,654 
			 2001–02 2 166 1,741 
		
	
	(17) A serious injury is one which necessitated detention in hospital or involved fractures, concussion, severe general shock, penetration by a projectile or multiple wounds.

Al Mujaharoon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take over the planned Magnificent 17 conference organised by Al Mujaharoon.

David Blunkett: holding answer 11 September 2003
	Al-Muhajiroun represents neither the British Muslim Community nor its views.
	We absolutely reject its offensive statements, as have the vast majority of Muslims living in the UK.
	However, we have a long-standing and important tradition of free speech in this country people have a right to air their views, however unpalatable they may be to others. But we also have tough legislative powers to catch those who cross the line from legitimate debate and comment, into inciting violence, or who commit offences motivated by racial or religious hatred. We tightened these powers in the Anti-Terrorism and Security Acts (2001). Police can and do use these powers.Every word and every statement that representatives of AI-Muhajiroun make is closely monitored by the appropriate authorities.

Bailiffs

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were prosecuted and how many convictions there were in each year since 1997 concerning (a) debts or payments in arrears and (b) abusive and illegal behaviour by bailiffs.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Asylum Seekers

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are being provided with accommodation under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Beverley Hughes: Reliable information on the numbers of cases receiving support under Section 4 of the 1999 Act is currently unavailable, because of the difficulty of ensuring that the information is accurate. We are working with the YMCA to establish more frequent reporting that will enable us to produce accurate figures.
	Information on the number of applications for the National Asylum Supports Service (NASS) support and the numbers of asylum seekers currently being supported by NASS can be found on the website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Asylum Seekers

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Somalia (a) sought asylum, (b) were granted asylum, (c) were granted exceptional leave to remain, (d) have made applications which are still outstanding and (e) have made applications for asylum which have been refused and have been subsequently removed from the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: The tables provide the available information, showing the number of asylum applications, initial decisions and removals of Somalis for the last five years. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same year. Nor do removals necessarily relate to initial decisions or appeal outcomes in the same year.
	Information on asylum applications, by nationality, awaiting an initial decision is unavailable. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on the number of asylum applications, initial decisions and removals is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Asylum applications received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, initial decisions, removals and voluntary departures, nationals of Somalia, 1998 to 2002(18)
		
			Initial decisions(19),(20) 
			 Cases considered under normal procedures  Backlog clearance exercise 
			  Applications received Total initial decisions Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Total refused Grants of ELR under backlog criteria(21),(22) Non compliance refusals under backlog criteria(21),(23) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 4,685 2,805 2,330 375 100 — — 
			 1999(24) 7,495 350 130 55 1 20 35 5 
			 2000(24),(25) 5,020 11,325 5,310 3,575 2,365 55 15 
			 2001(26) 6,420 8,430 2,910 1,995 3,525 — — 
			 2002(27) 6,540 6,735 2,515 1,405 2,815 — — 
		
	
	(18) Figures rounded to nearest 5, with "*" = 1 or 2, and "—" = 0.
	(19) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(20) The refusal figures for each year do not necessarily relate to the applications received in the same year.
	(21) Cases decided under pragmatic measures aimed at reducing the pre '96 asylum backlog.
	(22) Includes cases where asylum or exceptional leave has been granted under the backlog criteria.
	(23) Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.
	(24) May exclude some cases lodged at Local Enforcement Offices between January 1999 and March 2000.
	(25) Cases considered under the normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(26) Revised figures.
	(27) Provisional figures.
	Note:
	From October 2000, the source for data on decisions changed. The nationality breakdown is therefore not directly comparable with previous months.
	The latest available data on removals of Somali nationals who have sought asylum at some stage are given in the table.
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(28) of Somali principal asylum applicants(29),(30)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998(31) 35 
			 1999 n/a 
			 2000 n/a 
			 2001(31),(32) 25 
			 2002(31),(32) 50 
		
	
	n/a = Nationality data are not available for 1999 and 2000 due to data quality issues on IS enforcement databases.
	(28) Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(29) Figures rounded to nearest 5, with "*" = 1 or 2, and "—" = 0.
	(30) Figures exclude dependants of asylum seekers removed. Data on dependants have only been collected since April 2001.
	(31) Data for 2001 and 2002 have been estimated due to data quality issues.
	(32) Figure may include a small number of dependants leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes.
	(33) Provisional figures.
	Note:
	From October 2000, the source for data on decisions changed. The nationality breakdown is therefore not directly comparable with previous months.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of crimes received payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in each of the last five years; and how much was paid out.

Paul Goggins: The data in the table have been provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
	
		
			  Number of awards Total value (rounded to nearest £ million) 
		
		
			 1998–99 46,240 195 
			 1999–2000 43,495 206 
			 2000–01 39,011 206 
			 2001–02 41,351 233 
			 2002–03 42,688 232

Criminal Records Bureau

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people having passed the Prison Service recruitment selection process are awaiting clearance by the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: On 2 September 2003, the Criminal Records Bureau had 202 outstanding applications for disclosure of criminal records submitted by Her Majesty's Prison Service. However, it is not possible to identify from the Criminal Records Bureau database how many of these are as a result of recruitment exercises and how many result from internal redeployment and promotion. This information could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.
	The Criminal Records Bureau was set up to assist in the safer recruitment of people working with children and vulnerable adults. It has the capacity to issue 60,000 disclosures a week and is currently meeting its service levels, issuing 90 per cent of standard disclosures within two weeks and 90 per cent of enhanced disclosures within four weeks.
	The Prison Service uses the Criminal Records Bureau to obtain an additional check for those working with children under 18 years of age as required by the Protection of Children Act 1999.

Faith Communities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to consult faith communities about the work of Government; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 11 September 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Mr. Bryant) on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 12W.
	The Review of the Government's Interface with the Faith Communities is making good progress and we are due to report at the end of the year.

Internet Grooming

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to promote awareness and safe internet usage, with particular reference to younger people.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 8 September 2003
	Over the last two years, the Home Secretary's Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet has run and evaluated two successful national awareness campaigns. The campaigns sought to raise awareness of Internet safety measures, via cinema, television and radio advertising, national newspapers, online advertising on teen websites and chatrooms, and sponsorship activity. The core messages that were conveyed were that: children/young people should not give out their address, email, mobile or other contact details, that they should never attend a face-to-face meeting unaccompanied by an adult, and that people may lie about their identity. The task force also issued a 'Keeping your child safe on the Internet' leaflet and 200,000 copies of the leaflet were distributed via doctors surgeries and as an insert in the Department for Education and Skills magazine Parents + Schools
	The Home Office also runs two websites, thinkuknow.co.uk and wiseuptothenet.co.uk. The former is aimed at children and young people and the latter is aimed at parents. The Department for Education and Skills, Superhighway website and guidance, includes advice on all aspects of Internet safety such as walled gardens, firewalls, user contacts and net smart rules. Their revised guidance also includes advice on e-mails for students, filtering systems, school websites and chatrooms.

Passports

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has put in place since 1999 to speed up the process of renewing a passport.

Beverley Hughes: Since 1999, the UK Passport Service (UKPS) has put in place a number of measures which have all contributed to speeding up the process of renewing a passport.
	The UKPS has increased capacity by 30 per cent. through increased staffing, and the opening of a seventh passport office in Durham in March 2000. It opened its new London office in June 2000 which provides much improved service to its customers. TheUKPS has extended the working hours of its public counters which open longer on weekdays, and on Saturdays, and introduced a guaranteed one-day and one-week services, available by appointment, for those customers who need an urgent renewal service. The UKPS Service Standard has been set to process 99.5 per cent. of all correctly completed passport applications within 10 days and this is being consistently achieved throughout this year. To encourage renewal customers to apply early at less busy times, the UKPS has introduced a facility whereby customers can be credited on their new passport with the unexpired validity of their old passport, up to a maximum of nine months.
	The UKPS has also improved the guidance to customers wishing to renew their passport. Page 1 of the information guide, which accompanies the passport application form, has a separate and clearly highlighted statement on what sections of the form to complete for renewals, and other relevant advice, to make completion of the form and its accurate submission easier. Finally, the UKPS has established a Call Centre, which handles passport inquiries 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and has enhanced its website (www.passport.gov.uk) to enable, among other things, e-mail inquiries, and online renewal application form completion. These measures all help customers to complete their applications accurately and to use the correct application channel to meet their needs.

Probation Service

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation service staff were employed in the last five years; and how many staff there were in each grade for these years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			Number of Probation Staff(34),(35) 
			 London 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Chief Officer 54 55 53 54 42 
			 Deputy Chief Officer 15 13 13 12 18 
			 Assistant Chief Officer 207 203 201 213 223 
			 Area Manager 40 45 49 49 53 
			 Regional Training Staff 6 24 40 48 37 
			 Senior Practitioner 73 69 85 130 143 
			 Senior Probation Officers 1,020 989 1,023 1,065 1,106 
			 Probation Officers 5,734 5,773 5,532 5,437 4,789 
			 Trainee Probation Officers — 229 523 564 1,096 
			 Probation Service Officers 1,919 2,027 2,502 2,869 3,566 
			 All Other Staff 4,900 4,585 4,650 4,798 4,716 
			 Total 13,968 14,012 14,671 15,239 15,789 
		
	
	(34) Figures given as full-time equivalents.
	(35) Figures as at 31 December 2001, the figures for 2002–03 are currently being processed and analysed and will be available in due course.
	Note:
	Figures obtained from data collected for RDS Probation Statistics 2001.

Restorative Justice

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the use of restorative justice, with particular reference to (a) mediation and (b) reparation; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Government's restorative justice strategy, issued on 22 July 2003, sets out proposals to extend the use of restorative justice, including mediation and reparation to victims and the community.
	The Government aims to maximise the use of restorative justice in the Criminal Justice System, where we know it works well, to meet victims' needs and to reduce re-offending, and in society at large to resolve disputes and build strong, active communities. The strategy will also encourage more high quality, visible reparation by offenders to the community. The key link between restorative justice and reparation is that both are ways the offender can take responsibility for the harm they have caused and put it right. Both are ways that the Criminal Justice System can bring visible benefits to victims and other ordinary citizens, and be seen to be responsive to their needs. In practice, restorative justice can often lead to the offender making reparation to their victim, or to the wider community.
	The launch of this strategy (which can be found on the Home Office website) marks the start of a 12-week consultation process. Officials have been working closely with criminal justice practitioners and the voluntary sector to develop the restorative justice strategy. Comments on the consultation paper are welcome.

West Sussex Safe House Project

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with West Sussex county council over the future of the West Sussex Safe House Project; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We understand that West Sussex are considering closure of the safe house. It is, of course, for local authorities to decide how best to provide support and services for children in need in its area, including accommodation for children who are the victims of trafficking. There is no current specific earmarked funding for services of this nature. Instead, Government funding is allocated to councils with social services responsibilities on the basis of the needs of their populations. It is, therefore, for councils, working in partnership with relevant local stakeholders, to determine their spending priorities on the basis of local needs. A National Asylum Support Service grant reimburses local authorities for the extra costs incurred for the care of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
	West Sussex recognise that a body of expertise has been built up in the safe house over the last two years. They plan to close the safe house and use this expertise in the form of training and support packages for carers of young people assessed as being at risk of being trafficked. Currently, the safe house caters only for 17 and 18-year-old girls. There are also concerns that its location has become widely known, thus undermining the security of the service provided. West Sussex feel that by closing the safe house they will be able to offer a service to all children at risk from traffickers, including boys and under-16s and address the security concerns that have arisen.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Andrew Wang

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Taiwan regarding Mr. Andrew Wang.

Bill Rammell: It is the Government's policy not to make public announcements on individual extradition requests that may or may not have been received. This is to ensure that any on-going investigations by relevant law enforcement agencies are not jeopardised in any way.
	However, the UK is not, at present, able to establish extradition arrangements with the Taiwanese authorities as HMG does not recognise Taiwan as a state.

Arms Promotion (Czech Republic)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 14 July 2003, Official Report, column 48W, on arms promotion activities, if he will list the Ministers carrying out promotion activities in the Czech Republic, the dates on which such conversations took place and the transactions which were discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: holding answer 11 September 2003
	I refer the right hon. Member to my previous answer on 9 September 2003, Official Report, column 282W.
	I discussed the proposed sale of Gripen fighter aircraft by a UK/Swedish consortium on 25 January 2002 with my then Czech counterpart, Jan Kavan, and informally on other occasions. Ben Bradshaw met the Czech Defence Minister, Stanislav Tvrdik, on 5 March 2002 where they discussed the Gripen proposal. I am not aware of any other meetings during 2002 where Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers discussed UK arms exports with Czech colleagues.

Brazil

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Brazil following the election of President Lula.

Bill Rammell: UK-Brazil relations are good and continuing to develop. I visited Brazil in December 2002 to start the formal process of engagement with the new government, and my noble Friend the Leader of the House of Lords (Lord Williams) represented Her Majesty's Government at President Lula's inauguration. The Brazilian Trade Minister, Furlan visited the UK in March. I led the UK delegation at the latest round of bilateral High Level Political Talks in Brasilia in May. President Lula paid a successful first official visit to the UK in July for the Progressive Governance Summit. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister held substantive of bilateral talks with him.

Chechnya

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the situation in (a) Chechnya and (b) the Caucasus Region.

Bill Rammell: We continue to monitor the situation in Chechnya and in the Caucasus. We have noted the steps the Russian Government is taking to establish a political process in Chechnya and welcomed the constitutional referendum held in March 2003. We continue to believe that the success of the political process will be dependent on the thorough and consistent implementation of the political and civil rights set out in the new constitution. While recognising the serious threat posed by terrorism in the region, we remain concerned about the security and human rights situation in Chechnya and the surrounding republics. We also note with concern the bombings in recent months throughout the North Caucasus.
	Conflicts in and between the countries of the Southern Caucasus pose challenges for regional security and stability and the prospects for regional co-operation. As a member of the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General on Georgia, the UK is participating in the process to find a political settlement to the Abkhazia dispute. On Nagorno Karabakh our policy is to support any solution acceptable to both parties, and capable of delivering a lasting political settlement. We support the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in this regard. Her Majesty's Government's Special Representative for the Caucasus region. Sir Brian Fall, is actively addressing these problems and will work closely with his newly-appointed EU colleague.

Colombia

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Colombia.

Bill Rammell: After over a year in power, President Uribe continues to receive much support from the Colombian people. His government is still battling guerrilla and paramilitary groups which commit appalling human rights violations funded by illegal drug production, extortion and kidnapping. We support his efforts to tackle these problems and to develop a fully functioning democratic state throughout Colombia based on social and economic reform and sustainable economic development. At the same time we underline the need in so doing to respect the rule of law, human rights and the safety and welfare of its citizens. There is still much to do.

Cyprus

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residents from the occupied part of Cyprus have been (a) granted and (b) refused a visa to visit the UK in each year since its introduction; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Visitor visa applications
		
			  Received Issued Refused Other 
		
		
			 1998 7,819 7,286 413 120 
			 1999 7386 6,900 452 34 
			 2000 6,782 5,603 284 895 
			 FY 2001–02 5,831 5,060 135 636 
			 FY 2002–03 6,593 5,400 470 723 
		
	
	The column referring to 'other' may include those unresolved applications which have been deferred pending further inquiries and have been carried over to the following year. Applications may also be withdrawn during processing but still count as an application received. Posts are also required to count all applications received (for example, a mother and her three children on one passport may count as four applications but only one entry clearance may be issued). Not all of the applicants who apply in the "TRNC" are "Turkish Cypriots". From 2001 Posts began reporting statistics by financial rather than calendar year.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the rights of national parliaments to (a) hold up and (b) veto proposals from the EU Commission, as contained in the report of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: The proposal in the draft Constitutional Treaty, to introduce a mechanism to enforce the subsidiarity principle, represents a significant step forward in the role that national parliaments will have in EU business. It provides, for the first time, a Treaty-based power for national parliaments to question EU legislative proposals on the basis of subsidiarity. If more than a third of national parliaments considered a proposal at odds with the principle of subsidiarity, the Commission would have to review it; and would in practice find it very difficult to ignore those parliaments' views.
	This proposal will help to ensure that the EU only legislates when it adds value to the actions of the individual Member States.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits there have been to the Government's website regarding consultation on the future of the EU; how many have responded with comments; and what percentage have expressed support for an EU constitution.

Denis MacShane: The Government's online consultation on the draft EU Constitutional Treaty has received over 27,000 readings and 985 contributions so far. The consultation does not aim to measure support for the draft EU Constitutional Treaty but to enable discussion of the main policy issues we expect the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference to address.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how far the Government's objectives for the EU of (a) simplification of the Union's instruments and (b) more democracy, transparency and efficiency in the EU have been met by the proposals of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: The Convention's draft text meets most of the Government's objectives. It succeeds in simplifying the Union's instruments by streamlining them and defining them more clearly.
	The Convention's draft also proposes more democracy, transparency and efficiency by, for example: making it clear where the Union can and cannot act; reinforcing the role of national parliaments in policing the principle of subsidiarity; providing for greater openness in the meetings of the Council of Ministers; replacing the Maastricht "three pillars" system with a single Treaty structure: and setting up a Chair of the European Council.

Food Expenditure

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on food by his Department and by each of the agencies for which it is responsible in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance he has issued to encourage the procurement of home-produced food; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) expenditure on food consumed in the UK in 2002–03 amounted to approximately £550,000. Information about 2001–02 expenditure and the proportion of food produced in the UK could only be provided at disproportionate cost. It is only in 2002–03 that we have started to centrally compile this data.
	FCO purchasing policy is to buy goods and services on the basis of value for money and through competition unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary. We are currently reviewing our arrangements for buying food for UK consumption as part of a review of public sector food procurement which is being led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. That review will include examination of whether UK and small producers are being given a proper chance to win contracts.

British Detainees (Guantanamo Bay)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the US Administration regarding the fate of British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Attorney General has recently held a number of rounds of talks with the US Administration. His objective has been to ensure that the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay. if prosecuted, are assured of fair trials that meet generally recognised principles, wherever those trials take place, and to make clear our opposition to the death penalty. We are discussing a number of options with the US Government. The possibility of repatriating the detainees remains under discussion. Further talks are planned for the near future.

Immigration and Asylum

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the new EU states about immigration and asylum.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Home Secretary (who has lead responsibility for asylum and immigration matters), and other government ministers have regular discussions with their counterparts in the new Member States on issues of asylum and immigration. These discussions take place within formal bilaterals as well as in the margins of other meetings.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 8 September 2003 on Iraq, with regard to the post-conflict reconstruction effort in that country, how many contracts for reconstruction projects were in place with companies prior to 27 July 2003; how many contracts for reconstruction projects were placed with companies between 27 July and 8 September 2003; how many of the reconstruction projects agreed prior to 27 July 2003 are under way; how many reconstruction projects placed with companies after 27 July 2003 are under way; how many of the reconstruction projects agreed prior to 27 July 2003 are complete; and how many of the reconstruction projects agreed after 27 July 2003 are complete.

Jack Straw: 15 contracts for reconstruction projects were in place with companies prior to 27 July 2003; one contract for a reconstruction project was placed between 27 July and 8 September 2003; 12 of the reconstruction projects agreed prior to 27 July 2003 are under way; one reconstruction project placed after 27 July 2003 is under way. These long-term contracts are not yet complete.
	This answer relates to primary contracts from the US and British Governments. Several hundred sub-contracts exist.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what countries have promised to provide troops to the coalition force in Iraq; how many were originally promised; and how many are deployed in Iraq from each country.

Bill Rammell: In addition to 11,000 UK and 140,000 US forces, over 30 countries are committed to join the Coalition in Iraq. The following countries are already deployed; Italy (3,000), Netherlands (1,100), Denmark (420), Lithuania (88), Czech Republic (330), Romania (510), Norway (140), Bulgaria (480), Dominican Republic (300), Hungary (300), Mongolia (250), Poland (2,300), Slovakia (120), Spain (1,250), Thailand (26), Ukraine, (1,800), Albania (70), Kazakhstan (25), Uzbekistan (135), Georgia (69), Macedonia (25), Azerbaijan (150), Moldova (42), Estonia (43), Latvia (142), Honduras (366), El Salvador (415), Nicaragua (111), South Korea (675) and the Philippines (55).
	Portugal will send 130 military police and New Zealand 44 engineers (for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance) later this month to assist the UK area. Tonga are also expected to deploy troops and Thailand and Denmark are committed to send further forces at a later date.

Israel

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of recent developments in Israel on the peace process.

Bill Rammell: The renewal in mid-August of the familiar cycle of violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories has set back the peace process. But the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want an end to this violence and a lasting peace. The will of the international community to work for peace remains strong. We must encourage all parties to overcome the current difficulties, implement the roadmap and realise its vision of a two-state solution. To do this, the new Palestinian leadership must act with renewed determination to stop the suicide bombers, and Israel must stop targeted killings.

Israel

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the Israeli Government to stop further seizures of land from Palestinians.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised with the Government of Israel, the UK's concerns about the seizure of Palestinian land. We deplore both continuing settlement activity and land appropriation and the isolation of Palestinian villages for construction of the 'security fence'. Our embassy in Tel Aviv and FCO officials have also raised this matter with Israel and will continue to do so; lasting peace can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement and not unilateral actions.

Pakistan

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with representatives from Pakistan regarding the persecution of Christians; and what has been done to encourage the Pakistani administration to stop such activities.

Mike O'Brien: We remain concerned about the treatment of Christians and misuse of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. The EU made clear its concerns and raised specific cases with the Pakistan authorities on 7 February 2003 and again on 23 June 2003. We will remain engaged and continue to urge Pakistan to pursue laws and practices to protect Christians and other religious minorities against discrimination, intimidation and attacks.

Peter Bleach

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the Government's request to release Mr. Peter Bleach from India; and what action will be taken if Mr. Bleach is released into UK custody by the Indian authorities.

Bill Rammell: During his visit to the UK in June, the Indian Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. L K Advani, gave assurances to my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary that he would take a fresh look at Mr. Bleach's case. Our High Commission in New Delhi continues to make representations to the Government of India about Mr. Bleach's case.
	In the event of Mr. Bleach's release, we understand the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs will notify our Posts in Kolkata and New Delhi, where consular officers stand ready to make the practical arrangements for Mr. Bleach's return to the UK.
	The British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata remains in close contact with Mr. Bleach about his case. Our consular staff in Kolkata will continue to visit Mr. Bleach regularly and do all they properly can to help him, and will let him know immediately of any developments.

Somali People (Entry Clearance)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are made at UK diplomatic posts in (a) Kenya and (b) Ethiopia for entry clearance applications to be made by Somali people to travel to the UK.

Chris Mullin: Due to a specific threat, our High Commission in Nairobi has introduced security restrictions to those entering the High Commission compound.
	As a result, the Visa Section is currently only able to accept applications for entry clearance from those who hold appropriate documentation confirming their nationality and identity.
	The documents currently accepted by the High Commission in Nairobi are:
	national passports issued by a competent authority of a Government recognised by the British Government;
	stateless documents issued by a competent authority of a Government recognised by the British Government; and
	Kenyan national identity cards.
	This requirement applies to all visitors to the High Commission and is not aimed specifically at a particular nationality. However, since the collapse of the central authority in Somalia in 1991, there has been no reliable body authorised to issue marriage or birth certificates, passports or any other form of identification. Therefore, these restrictions affect the majority of Somali nationals who wish to apply at our Visa Section in Nairobi for entry clearance to the UK.
	The High Commission is keeping the security situation under close review and the restrictions will be in place no longer than necessary. However, UKvisas and the Visa Section in Nairobi are actively reviewing the procedures to try and identify ways for Somali nationals without documentation to submit applications that are compatible with maintaining security.
	Our embassy in Addis Ababa does not face the same security issues as our High Commission in Nairobi. The Visa Section in Addis Ababa is able to accept applications from all Somali nationals, even those without documents. Applications can be made in person or through an agent. Applicants are then allocated a date to attend the Visa Section for an interview.

Tibet

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the human rights situation in Tibet.

Bill Rammell: We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Tibet and encourage China to continue dialogue with the Dalai Lama's representatives.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on 25 June. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised Tibet with the Chinese leadership during his visit to China from 20–22 July.
	Embassy officials visited Tibet at the end of August and discussed a range of issues with local government officials.

TREASURY

Audit Requirements

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will bring the audit requirements for industrial and provident societies in line with those of registered companies.
	(2)  if he will amend the requirement on industrial and provident societies wanting to publish interim accounts to undertake a full audit.

Ruth Kelly: The Government is keen to see, where appropriate, a level playing field between industrial and provident societies and companies. We continue to examine the options for taking forward this agenda. However, in order to provide for a strategic, consistent and up-to-date approach between companies and societies, the Government believes that the general modernisation of industrial and provident society legislation in this area should be considered in light of the Department of Trade and Industry's Company Law Review.

Bruemark Ruling

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total sum of money deposited with the Bank of England by frustrated liquidations has been since the Bruemark Ruling in June 2001.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested is not available to the Treasury.

Computer Fraud

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been (a) budgeted and (b) spent by his Department since April 2002 on (i) combating computer fraud, (ii) preventing theft of computers and (iii) safeguarding the security of information held on computer; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The risks of computer fraud, computer theft and unauthorised access to information held on computer are taken very seriously by the Chancellor's Departments and they are active in raising awareness of those risks and managing them, though most of the expenditure on doing so forms part of existing budgets for business as usual rather than being separately identified. Therefore the information requested is not available in the form requested.

Corporation Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the revenue raised by the March 1998 Budget decision to abolish advanced corporation tax and introduce quarterly payments of corporation tax, for each year from 1998–99 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the impact on the Exchequer of the abolition of ACT and introduction of quarterly instalment payments were quoted in the 1998 Budget report.

Corporation Tax

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of the changes to the statutory corporation tax deduction for share schemes announced in the Pre-Budget Report November 2002; what the purpose is of the changes; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The provision to introduce a statutory corporation tax relief for employee share acquisition announced in the November 2002 Pre-Budget Report was brought into effect by Schedule 23 of Finance Act 2003. The estimate of exchequer costs to provide the statutory relief is in the Final Regulatory Impact Assessment published on the 10 April 2003 and remain unchanged, growing to around £95 million by 2007–08. The purpose of the statutory relief is to encourage and enable companies to set-up or expand employee share schemes by removing the need for complex arrangements solely to obtain a CT deduction. It levels the playing field between the use of cash and equity as remuneration and provides a modern, simple and fair system. It gives certainty to companies in terms of timing and amount of relief, reduces administration and compliance costs.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of (a) 16 June, (b) 15 July, (c) 13 August and (d) 9 September relating to her constituent, Mrs. Julia Cuxson-Jones of Cheshunt.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue replied on behalf of the Chancellor on 15 September 2003.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of (a) 16 June, (b) 15 July, (c) 13 August and (d) 9 September relating to her constituent, Mrs. Louise Stevens of Cheshunt.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue replied on behalf of the Chancellor on 15 September 2003.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of (a) 16 June, (b) 15 July, (c) 13 August and (d) 9 September relating to her constituent, Mr. J.A. Russell of Cheshunt.

Ruth Kelly: I wrote to the hon. Lady on 10 September.

Developing Countries

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the extent of (a) illegal property ownership and (b) illegal working patterns in developing countries; and what assessment he has made of the impact in each case on the ability of developing countries meeting their international financial obligations;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact (a) property rights and (b) a formalised system for establishing property ownership has on the ability of developing countries (i) to improve their economic position and (ii) to fulfil their international debt repayment obligations.

John Healey: There is widespread consensus that weak property rights are a key barrier to private sector development, economic growth and poverty reduction by, for example, deterring foreign investment, discouraging people from investing in their land, and preventing them from using it as collateral for loans.
	Almost all of the world's poor are engaged in some form of private sector activity, with most in the informal sector. Private sector policy must therefore support the development of small, medium and micro enterprises in both the formal and informal sectors.
	The ability of a country to meet its international financial obligations depends on a range of factors that will support private sector development and economic growth, including sound macroeconomic policies that ensure the level of debt remains sustainable.
	There are many other factors that are important to securing greater investment, raising growth rates and reducing poverty including: the quality of governance, the level of corruption, crime and political instability; access to credit and finance; the quality of infrastructure; and the macroeconomic environment. The ability of a country to meet its international financial obligations also depends on sound macroeconomic policies that ensure the level of debt remains sustainable.
	The UK Government supports various initiatives to help developing country governments identify and create the right conditions for private investment and growth

Employer-loaned Computers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the revenue cost each year of the tax relief on employer-loaned computers, as introduced in the 1999 Budget, for each year from 1999–2000 to 2005–06; what assessment he has made of the economic value of this relief; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on which to base up-to-date estimates of the cost of this exemption is not available.

Employment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the number of people in Crosby who are in (a) temporary and (b) part-time employment.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Ms Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 15 September 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about part-time and temporary employment in Crosby. I am replying in his absence. (129462)
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) gives estimates of part-time and temporary employment rates, but not the numbers of people, for Parliamentary Constituencies. The latest available estimate, for the twelve month period ending February 2002, is that 24.9 per cent of the employed population resident in Crosby were working part-time. The LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of temporary employment for Crosby.

Enterprise Investment Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of reducing the minimum holding period for (a) investments under the Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) for venture capital trusts, as announced in the March 2000 Budget, for each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06; what economic benefits have resulted from these changes; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The forecast cost of reducing the minimum holding period for investment in the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust scheme was given in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2003 (HC 500).
	In April 2003, the Inland Revenue published research into the EIS and VCT schemes carried out by PACEC and the Centre for Business Research at the University of Cambridge (available at http://home.inrev.gov.uk/inlandrevenue/research/report.pdf). This research concluded that both schemes have met their objectives of encouraging more investment by individuals in smaller, high risk trading companies, which in turn has increased their potential to grow and become successful. The research did not measure the benefits of the holding period change specifically, but found that, of those existing investors that were aware of any changes made to the schemes, up to half would be more likely to invest through the schemes in future as a result.

Enterprise Management Incentives

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the total revenue cost of introducing enterprise management incentives in the March 2000 Budget to allow smaller high risk companies to issue the tax-advantaged share options to key staff, for each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06; what assessment has been made of the economic benefit of this scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total cost of the Enterprise Management Incentives is for each year from 2001–02 to 2005–06; what assessment has been made of the benefits of this scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the exchequer cost of tax and national insurance relief on options granted under Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) were published in Budget 2000 for 2000–01 to 2002–03 (Table A.13). The additional costs of subsequent changes to the EMI rules were published in Budget 2001 (Table A.13) and the pre-Budget report 2001 (Table B4). These estimates are of the taxable salary sacrificed in lieu of EMI option grants and no further estimates have been made on this basis.
	Each year, estimates of the tax and national insurance relief cost of gains made by employees upon exercise of their EMI options are published in Inland Revenue Statistics on the Revenue's website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/emp share schemes/menu.htm. Only a very small number of employees exercised their options in the early years of EMI, so the estimated costs were negligible for 2000–01 and 2001–02. These costs will rise as the scheme matures.
	As stated in the Full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), published in March 2000, a full review of the success of EMI will take place during 2005. In the meantime, the Inland Revenue continues to monitor the administration, take-up, and exchequer costs of the initiative. To date, around 4,000 companies have granted EMI options to around 60,000 employees.

Enterprise Management Incentives

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of the expansion of the Enterprise Management Incentives announced in the 2001 Budget for each year from 2000–01 to 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is contained in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2001.

Household Debt

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to tackle the levels of household debt in the UK.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins) on 16 June 2003, Official Report, column 40W and 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 52W.

Individual Learning Accounts

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total cost of tax reliefs on individual learning account contributions for each year from 2000–01 to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on which to base up-to-date estimates of the cost of these exemptions is not available.

Inheritance Tax

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make changes to the inheritance tax regime to reflect recent trends in property price inflation, with particular reference to the value of the principal residence of the deceased.

Dawn Primarolo: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer considers all taxes as part of his annual Budget judgment.

Lung Cancer

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died as a result of lung cancer in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland in 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Curtis-Thomas, dated 15 September 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning lung cancer deaths in (a) England (b) Northern Ireland in 2002. I am replying in his absence. (129481) The latest year for which data are available is 2001, whose figures are shown in the table below.
	
		Mortality for malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus or lung(36), (a) England (b) Northern Ireland, 2001(37)
		
			  Northern Ireland England 
		
		
			 Number of deaths 26,894 782 
			 Age-standardised rate(38) per 100,000 40.4 41.4 
		
	
	(36) Selected using code C33-C34 from the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision.
	(37) Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year for England and registrations of death per calendar year for Northern Ireland.
	(38) Directly age-standardised to the European Standard Population.

National Insurance Fund

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the surplus expected in the National Insurance Fund in March 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to Table 2 on page 7 of the Report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2003 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2003.

North Sea Fiscal Regime

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of abolishing the North Sea royalty for each year from 2003–04 to 2005–06; what the reasons were for this decision; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: North Sea Royalty was abolished from 1 January 2003 as part of the package of measures introduced by the Chancellor in his 2002 Budget to modernise the North Sea fiscal regime. Along with the other measures in the package its abolition will promote long-term investment in the North Sea, make the tax regime more closely linked to profits and ensure a fairer return for the nation from profits derived from a national resource. The estimated cost of abolition is given in the table A2 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2003 [HC 500].

Customs Detector Dogs

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 6 March by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, columns 952–53, how many food sniffer dogs are available at (a) airports and (b) seaports.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave him on 10 September. The additional information requested on the deployment of detector dogs is not available; exemption 4 (Law Enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies to all such information about Customs anti-smuggling activities.

Premium Bonds

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unclaimed prizes from premium bonds there are; and what their cumulative value is.

Ruth Kelly: There are 390,352 1 bonds outstanding that amount to £23 million 1 unclaimed Premium Bond prizes.
	1 Figure correct as of the 1 September 2003.

Regional Pay

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which public sector workers will be affected by his plans on regional pay.

Paul Boateng: All departments and agencies across the public sector are expected to consider how regional and local pay flexibilities apply to their workforce, except where an exemption has been specifically allowed, or where responsibility lies with the devolved administrations.

Research and Development Tax Credit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of the research and development tax credit for each year from 1999–2000 to 2005–06; what assessment he has made of the additional research and development expenditure which has occurred because of this policy; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Latest estimates of the cost, on an accruals basis, of the research and development tax credit for each year from 2000–01 to 2002–03 are available on the Inland Revenue's website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/taxexpenditures/q t06 1.htm.

Residential Property Sales

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of annual residential property sales of (a) under £100,000, (b) under £200,000, (c) under £300,000, (d) under £400,000, (e) under £500,000, (f) under £600,000, (g) under £750,000, (h) under £1 million and (i) over £1 million; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of residential property sales in 2002 are given in the table:
	
		
			 Price band (£s) Number of transactions £000s 
		
		
			 Under 100,000 777 
			 100,000—199,999 425 
			 200,000—299,999 160 
			 300,000—399,999 47 
			 400,000—499,999 21 
			 500,000—599,999 6 
			 600,000—749,999 5 
			 750,000—1,000,000 4 
			 Over £1 million 4 
			 Total: 1,450 
		
	
	Source:Survey of Property Transactions

Savings

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of savings certificates and savings deposits issued through the Post Office which are unlikely to be claimed or cashed.

Ruth Kelly: We estimate that there is a potential £710 million forgotten or unclaimed funds held in matured Savings Certificates, and £525 million forgotten or unclaimed deposits held in savings accounts (where no transactions have been made in the last five years).

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisors have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost.

Ruth Kelly: Between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 special advisers in the Treasury Department travelled abroad on official business on eight occasions, at an average cost of £4,330 per trip. Countries visited are USA on 19–22 April 2002, 30 May to 2 June 2002, 3–5 September 2002, 26–30 September 2002 (X2), 5 March 2003; France on 11 September 2002 and 16 January 2003. All travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Tax Credits

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child tax credit recipients have made an application for reassessment; and of that number how many were on the basis of (a) the award being an overpayment and (b) the award being an underpayment.

Dawn Primarolo: Awards of child and working tax credits are adjusted if claimants report a change in the circumstances on which the award is based. Claimants may also ask for their award to be adjusted to reflect their expected income for the current tax year.
	The tax credits award for 2003–04 is initially based on the family's income for the tax year 2001–02. The final tax credits award will be based on 2003–04 income if it is lower, or more than £2,500 higher, than 2001–02 income. Even if income does rise, the first £2,500 of the rise is ignored in finalising the award. To allow awards to be adjusted to reflect current income, claimants can ask during the year for their tax credits to be based on their expected 2003–04 income, which is checked against actual income after the year end.
	Table 6.1 of "Child and Tax Credits Quarterly Statistics. July 2003" shows the number of families with awards who have asked for their awards to be adjusted to reflect their expected 2003–04 income. This publication is available on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Tax Credits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people who are eligible for each of the new tax credits have yet to apply; and how many (a) applications have been received and (b) eligible people there are in (i) the Teesside region and (ii) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: In total, 6 million families are expected to receive new tax credits. Already, after just 5 months, over 5.8 million families are benefiting, which is over 95 per cent. of those expected to be reached over the entire year.
	The available estimates of the number of families in each local authority and constituency receiving child and working tax credit appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. July 2003". This is on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandreveneue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	Estimates of the numbers of people expected to receive new tax credits are not available below the regional level.

Tax Credits

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit, in each London constituency; how many claims are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Clive Efford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many families in Eltham have benefited from the child tax credit; and what the overall amount paid out through the credit to families in Eltham was in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what the average gain of families in Eltham has been from the child tax credit;
	(3)  how many families he estimates will benefit from the working tax credit in Eltham; and what will be the average gain per family (a) in the UK and (b) in Eltham.

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit; and how many claims are outstanding.

Dawn Primarolo: The available estimates of the number of families in each local authority and constituency receiving child and working tax credit appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. July 2003". This is on the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandreveneue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	Any claims outstanding are ones where the Revenue is awaiting for further information, or are being verified. There is no breakdown of such claims by constituency.
	Statistics on average awards will be published after the end of the tax year, when awards have been finalised.

Tax Credits

Clive Efford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage families to claim (a) the working tax credit and (b) the child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 604W, regarding child tax credit. Since that date further publicity has included television, press, radio and online advertising as well as direct mail.

Third World Debt

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress with cancellation of Third World debt by (a) the UK and (b) other countries.

Paul Boateng: The UK government have been at the forefront of the international debate on debt relief issues, and continues to press for the rapid and full implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.
	Of the 38 countries that stand to benefit from enhanced HIPC debt relief, there are now 27—23 from Africa and 4 from Latin America—that already benefit from debt relief, which will amount in total to over $70 billion. This is a significant step towards achieving the $100 billion commitment made at the Cologne summit in 1999, and will reduce their debts to below the average for developing countries. For these 27 countries, the UK is providing 100 per cent. relief on their debts. Furthermore, the Chancellor has announced that any payments from countries yet to reach Decision Point would be held in trust for the day they can be returned to fund poverty reduction. Since 1999, the total UK commitment to multilateral institutions such as the World bank, the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to support the HIPC initiative has been $474 million.
	At their recent Summit in Evian, G8 governments reaffirmed their commitment to the HIPC initiative. They recognised the need to encourage and assist eligible countries in taking the steps necessary to complete the HIPC process. They urged the IMF and World bank to intensify their efforts to secure full participation of all creditors in the initiative, and reaffirmed their objective of ensuring debt sustainability for countries reaching completion point. Following on from discussions at Evian, the Chancellor will be working with other G7 Finance Ministers to agree the methodology for calculating the amount of "topping-up" debt relief available to countries. The UK has been pushing for a change in the rules of HIPC to exclude additional voluntary bilateral debt relief from the calculation of topping-up at Completion Point and the Chancellor will be working with other G8 Finance Ministers to review mechanisms to encourage good governance and the methodology for calculating the amount of topping-up debt relief available to countries—a measure that could provide an estimated $1 billion extra debt relief to HIPCs. In addition, the Treasury and the Department for International Development is seeking international support to establish the International Finance Facility, which could raise $50 billion annually to fund the Millennium Development Goals. This money could be disbursed in the form of concessional loans and grants, including debt relief.

Water Efficient Technologies

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the effects of the introduction of enhanced capital allowances for water-efficient technologies; what assessment has been made by the Treasury of such effects; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is contained in Table A1 (page 185) of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2003 [HC 500].
	Actual Exchequer cost will depend upon take-up of the qualifying technology products. It is too early to comment on the actual take-up of thepolicy and the related effects.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Immigration Work (Legal Practices)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many legal practices specialising in immigration work have ceased to offer their services in the last two years citing insufficient income from legal aid as a reason.

David Lammy: Neither my Department, nor the Legal Services Commission, maintain records on the number of legal practices specialising in immigration work that have ceased to offer their services citing insufficient income from legal aid as a reason. However, the number of organisations with contracts to provide publicly funded immigration and asylum legal services has increased over the last two years from 548 to 644.

Legal Services Commission

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Legal Services Commission uses a cost-benefit analysis when deciding whether to grant legal aid.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission assesses applications for Community Legal Service funding (formerly civil legal aid) against a means and a merits assessment under the Funding Code approved by Parliament. The only exceptions are public law Children Act cases and hearings before the Mental Health Review Tribunal, for which funding is available on a non-means, non-merits basis. A cost-benefit test is an important part of this assessment. The Code imposes different types of cost-benefit test according to the nature of the case. Broadly the criteria seek to ensure that public funding is only available in circumstances where a privately paying client would be prepared to litigate.
	A cost-benefit test is not used when deciding whether to grant publicly funded legal representation in criminal cases. The only test in determining whether an individual should be publicly funded is whether it is in the interests of justice, as required by article 6 of ECHR.

Legal Services Commission

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to review the guidelines used by the Legal Services Commission in making decisions on the allocation of legal aid.

David Lammy: The Legal Services Commission is responsible for granting public funding in civil cases. The merits criteria for the public funding of individual civil claims are contained in the Commission's Funding Code, which is established under the Access to Justice Act 1999. The criteria themselves are supported by detailed decision-making guidance which is regularly reviewed and updated by the Commission.
	There are plans to issue a consultation paper later this year to consider whether changes to the Funding Code should be made. Any changes would be implemented on or after April 2004.

Sheriffs

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) Sheriffs and (b) Under Sheriffs are (i) women and (ii) from minority ethnic communities; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Of the 51 High Sheriffs in England and Wales that the Privy Council is responsible for appointing (that is, excluding Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cornwall) 16 (31 per cent.) are women. The responsibility for appointing Under Sheriffs lies with High Sheriffs, and the Privy Council has no responsibility for them. Information on the ethnic background of nominees for High Sheriff is not supplied to the Privy Council. Appointment panels have now been set up, in all areas, and they have been asked to ensure that the pool from which nominees are drawn includes people from as wide a variety of backgrounds as possible.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Alconbury Airfield

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will make a decision on the application by Alconbury Development Ltd. concerning the Alconbury airfield.

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting parties about whether material changes have occurred since the inquiry into the appeals, relating to development at Alconbury Airfield, closed. The deadline for responses is 13 October. Any representations made will then be circulated for comment, giving a further period within which final comments may be made. The decisions on the appeals will be made as soon as possible after that. The exact timing will, however, depend on whether any matters arise from the reference back.

Local Authority Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out his reasons for refusing to allocate additional funds to those local authorities who choose not to establish arm's length management operations for their council housing.

Keith Hill: The Sustainable Communities Plan made it clear that there are three options open to local authorities seeking additional investment in their housing stock: Stock transfer, the Private Finance Initiative and the establishment of an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO).
	The range of options is needed so that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister can increase the quality of social housing alongside the achievement of other priorities. Additional resources are directed to options that will improve performance and service quality at the same time.

Local Authority Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities which have conducted ballots amongst their housing tenants for arm's length management operations; and what (a) the turn-out in each case and (b) the percentage votes for and against was.

Keith Hill: The information requested is tabled as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			 Local authority Turnout In favour Not in favour 
		
		
			 ALMO round 1   
			 Derby 48 88 12 
			 Hounslow 35 83 17 
			 Kirklees 47 81 19 
			 Rochdale 46 90 10 
			 Stockton 44 93 7 
			 
			 ALMO round 2   
			 Barnsley 25 57 43 
			 Carrick 61 96 4 
			 Colchester 57 76 24 
			 Leeds—East 35 83 17 
			 Leeds—North East 41 88 12 
			 Leeds—North West 42 89 11 
			 Leeds—South 39 91 9 
			 Leeds—South East 40 88 12 
			 Leeds—West 38 90 10 
			 Waltham Forest 49 85 15

Local Authority Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will allocate additional funds to local authorities whose tenants have voted in favour of the establishment of arm's length management operations.

Keith Hill: Allocation of funds to a local authority under the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) Programme is subject to two conditions: the council obtaining approval from the Secretary of State under section 27 of the Housing Act 1985 to delegate its housing management functions to an ALMO, for which tenant support is a key criterion; and the ALMO gaining at least a 2* from the Housing Inspectorate. We confirm the allocation of funds when both of these conditions are satisfied.

Census Forms

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Crosby and (b) the UK.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
	The National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have been prosecuted for not filling in their census forms in (a) Crosby and (b) in the UK. I am replying in his absence.
	In England and Wales there were 38 prosecutions for refusal to complete and return a census form. There was one prosecution in the Crosby constituency. Scotland and Northern Ireland conducted their own Censuses and prosecution for refusal to complete and return a census form was the responsibility of the respective Registrars General of these countries.
	The Office for National Statistics followed a policy of only prosecuting in cases where it had obtained clear and sufficient documentary evidence of a refusal to return a completed Census form.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of (a) 19 June, (b) 15 July, (c) 13 August and (d) 9 September relating to correspondence from Hertfordshire county council.

Yvette Cooper: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 September.

Disability Grants

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that no elderly or disabled person should wait more than six months for an assessment of needs, the provision of finance and the execution of works required under disability facilities grant arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are administered by local authorities who are under a statutory duty to notify an applicant on whether or not their application is approved as soon as is reasonably practicable, but no later than six months after the date of application. The grant is payable on completion of the works. Authorities have a statutory power to delay payment if they are under financial pressure but in these cases this must not be beyond 12 months from the date of grant application.
	We have recently consulted on new Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Department of Health draft guidance on delivering housing adaptations for disabled people, which sets out the Government's view of best practice on service delivery. This includes target times for the complete delivery process including needs assessment, processing of the application and the completion of building works. These target times will depend on the complexity of, and priority attached to, individual cases but the guidance suggests that the maximum target time for the entire process should in any event be no more than 260 working days and only 80 working days in high priority cases.
	We are currently considering responses to this consultation and hope to issue final guidance to local housing and social service authorities before the end of this year.

Dispute Resolution

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what developments there have been in the introduction of alternative dispute resolution methods into public sector contracts; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: On 23 March 2001, the Lord Chancellor published a formal pledge committing Government Departments and agencies to settle disputes by Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques. As part of that pledge, Departments are committed to including appropriate clauses in their standard procurement contracts on the use of ADR to settle disputes arising under those contracts. The document "Dispute Resolution Guidance" issued by the Office of Government Commerce and available on their website at http://www.ogc.gov.uk/sdtoolkit/reference/ogc library/generic guidance/dispute.pdf contains further details on the pledge, and includes at Annex B model clauses relating to ADR.

Fire Sprinklers

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it a legal requirement for fire sprinklers to be installed in all new dwellings; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Building Regulations apply to most building work undertaken in England and Wales, typically the erection, extension or material alteration of a building. Part B of the Building Regulations sets out the requirements for fire safety and is supported by Approved Document B which provides guidance on measures that will meet these requirements,
	A major review of Part B and its supporting Approved Document is due to commence in early 2004. As part of this review it is our intention to consider the potential of extending the existing provisions for sprinkler protection under the Building Regulations to new residential premises, including dwellings. The proposals will be subject to a full public consultation, and will be supported by a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

General Permitted Development Order

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have been made to Class B under Part 4 of the General Permitted Development Order since September 2001.

Keith Hill: There have been no changes to Part 4, Class B of Schedule 2 to the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) since September 2001. In January 2002 the Government published a consultation paper on possible options for change to the temporary use provisions. Due to the high level of public interest in the matter of temporary uses, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister made an interim announcement on 21 August 2002 that there would be no change to existing provisions.

Housing

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance he can give to areas with high house prices and low incomes to increase housing affordability; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future" on 5 February. This set out a range of measures to create conditions in which private house builders can increase supply and to make the best use of the existing housing stock.
	In addition funding for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme in 2003–04 has been increased to around £1.5 billion—an increase of £500 million on last year—to enable housing associations to provide homes for both rent and low cost home ownership. In all the Government will be providing around £5 billion for investment in affordable housing by 2005–06. Decisions on the allocation of these funds will be based on recommendations from the regional housing boards based on priorities identified in regional housing strategies.
	The Sustainable Communities Plan announced that the Home Ownership Task Force would be examining all the various home ownership programmes and the scope for better targeting and design. The task force is due to report in the autumn.

Housing Development (Sewerage Networks)

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what inspections local authority planning officers are required to carry out to ensure that new housing developments are correctly connected to sewerage networks.

Keith Hill: Planning policy guidance note 23 "Planning and pollution control", which was published in 1994 clearly states that the arrangements for sewage disposal are capable of being a material consideration in planning applications and appeals. It advises that local planning authorities may need to refuse planning permission where they are not satisfied about the adequacy of sewerage infrastructure or they may be able to impose conditions to ensure that suitable arrangements are in place. Examples of the types of conditions are given in Department of the Environment Circular 11/95 "The use of conditions in planning permissions".
	The consideration given to sewage disposal when determining planning applications will depend on the circumstances. Local authority planning officers are only responsible for enforcing planning conditions that have been imposed. In many circumstances there will be no need to impose planning conditions related to sewerage arrangements.
	However, Part H of the Building Regulations 2000 requires the provision of an adequate system of drainage to carry foul water from appliances within the building to a prioritised list of alternative foul water outfalls (public or private sewer, septic tank or a cesspool). Enforcement of the Building Regulations 2000 is by local authority building control departments or approved inspectors. Where a connection is to be made to a public sewer, under the Water Industry Act 1991, there is a duty to notify the sewerage undertaker and provision for the undertaker to inspect the connection.

Local Rates

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers local authorities may charge a local rate on new build houses when the roads, drains and play areas have not been adopted by that local authority.

Keith Hill: Local taxation on domestic property has been in the form of council tax since 1993–94. Currently local authorities have no power to vary council tax across their areas because roads, drains and play areas have not been adopted. However, subject to parliamentary approval, the Local Government Bill will provide a discretionary power for local billing authorities to offer locally determined council tax discounts.

Park Homes

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to consult on measures affecting park homes which require legislation.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister set up the Park Homes Working Party to consider the need to change existing legislation. The Working Party's we considered recommendations and consulted on in 2001. Options for changes to the law are currently being considered.

Planning

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what sanctions can be used by (a) his Department and (b) members of the public if a section 106 planning gain for a new primary school is not then taken up by the planning authority.

Keith Hill: There are no powers for my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister or members of the public to enforce s106 agreements directly.
	Planning obligations made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by section 12 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991) are either agreements between the local planning authority and persons with an interest in the land or undertakings given by persons with an interest in the land relating to the matters set out in section 106 (1) (a)–(d):
	(a) restricting the development or use of the land in any specified way;
	(b) requiring specified operations or activities to be carried out in, on, under or over the land;
	(c) requiring the land to be used in any specified way; or
	(d) requiring a sum or sums to be paid to the authority on a specified date or dates or periodically.
	The planning obligation can only be enforced by the local planning authority against the person who entered into the obligation or any person deriving title from the person who entered into the obligation. The relevant powers are set out at section 106 (5) and section 106 (6). There is no power for the Secretary of State or any other person to enforce the obligation.

Planning

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers a local authority has to prevent further buildings by a developer where the houses recently built by the company on that site which have many snags per house still to be resolved.

Phil Hope: There are no such powers.

Planning

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints about homes built by Redrow plc (a) in total and (b) on the Meads Estate near Bobbing have been received by NHBC Building Control Services Ltd.

Phil Hope: NHBC Building Control Services Ltd. is a subsidiary of NHBC (National House-Building Council), an independent company limited by guarantee. Questions regarding complaints made about developers or house builders to NHBC or its subsidiaries should be directed to NHBC.

Regional Assemblies

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers existing regional assemblies have in relation to (a) the hiring of permanent staff and (b) the expenditure of public money.

Nick Raynsford: Regional chambers (which style themselves assemblies) are voluntary. Some are companies while others are unincorporated bodies. Their arrangements for the hiring of permanent staff, are a matter for them and will vary between chambers, operating within the constraints ordinarily imposed by the law.
	Each regional chamber, or its accountable body, receives an annual grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and grant conditions in the funding agreement letters determine permitted expenditure.
	Regional Assemblies may derive other income through subscriptions from local authorities and other organisations (such as social and economic partners). Conditions that relate to the expenditure of this money is a matter for those funding bodies to decide.

Social Exclusion

John Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he is taking to tackle social exclusion among pensioners.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working across Government to tackle pensioner poverty and social exclusion. Since 1997, our strategy for tackling poverty has been to target our help on the poorest pensioners through the minimum income guarantee, the new pension credit and winter fuel payments. The poorest third of pensioners households will have gained over £1,600 a year in real terms.
	The Social Exclusion Unit is taking forward a programme of work looking at impacts and trends in social exclusion. This will develop a clearer understanding of how Government policies work together to tackle social exclusion for particular groups, including older people. The programme of work includes a review of the evidence about the impact of policies on social exclusion among older people
	The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit aims to ensure that older people benefit from regeneration initiatives. The work of Local Strategic Partnerships should be informed by the views of all local groups, including older people. We are making £36 million available through the Community Empowerment Fund to make sure that under-represented groups are better able to have their voices heard at the local level.
	Fear of crime can itself be a cause of social exclusion, particularly among some older people. Neighbourhood Warden Schemes are showing early signs of reducing crime and the fear of crime across some of the most deprived neighbourhoods.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises that it needs to know more about those older people who live within the most deprived areas. Following the recent consultation on updating the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, we will be creating an index of income deprivation among older people.
	The "Supporting People" programme offers vulnerable members of the community, including older people, the opportunity to improve their quality of life through greater independence, which can help to combat social exclusion. Through this programme we are promoting high quality, strategically planned housing-related support services that will enable older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Voter Turnouts

Denis Murphy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average voter turnout in the May 2003 local government elections was (a) where only traditional voting methods were used and (b) where postal ballots were piloted.

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold the information requested centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Electoral Commission published their evaluation of the 2003 local electoral pilots on 31 July. According to their report, the average voter turnout across all local elections in 2003, including results from elections held on a pilot basis, was 34.9 per cent. The average turnout at elections where all-postal voting pilots were held was 49.4 per cent.

HEALTH

National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse plans to locate staff within the Government Office for the north-west during 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) was originally structured with a regional manager in nine areas across the country. In 2002, a review of the NTA found regional managers had been over stretched and were not always fully engaged, with Government offices.
	The board of the NTA, with the agreement of the Department of Health and the Home Office, decided that further resources and staff should be deployed in each of the regions, commensurate with the area and the number of drug action teams covered. Within the north-west, the regional manager has been joined by two deputy regional managers and one other additional member of staff. A third deputy regional manager is also being recruited.
	The Board also decided that collocating the NTA teams in the Government Office for the north-west would enable closer working with Government Office colleagues. Collocation of the north-west NTA team took place on 7 July 2003.

Anti-TNF Therapy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take to ensure that health care trusts abide by National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on anti TNF therapy.

Stephen Ladyman: Clinicians have to make an independent clinical judgment, taking due account of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) advice and the strength of evidence which lies behind it. They may therefore depart from the advice if, in their view, the circumstances of the individual patient justify doing so. But they will be held accountable, through clinical governance arrangements, for their clinical decisions.
	The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and NICE have agreed a methodology for CHI to incorporate the monitoring of NICE guidance in its clinical governance reviews. Specifically, CHI now looks to see if national health service trusts have mechanisms in place to implement and comply with NICE guidance. CHI will also support and facilitate clinicians to discuss when NICE guidance is and is not followed on an individual patient basis.
	The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will be the main inspector of NHS services in the future. It will carry out inspection against clear national standards and we expect NICE guidance to be included in those standards.

Anti-TNF Therapy

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect centrally information regarding the level of availability of anti-TNF therapy to qualifying patients for each primary care trust.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommended the use of anti-TNF therapy in March 2002. We have issued directions obliging strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by NICE. This is in line with our manifesto commitment to ensure that patients receive drugs and treatments recommended by NICE on the national health service if considered appropriate by their clinicians. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) and NICE have agreed a methodology for CHI to incorporate the monitoring of NICE guidance in its clinical governance reviews. Specifically, CHI now looks to see if NHS trusts have mechanisms in place to implement and comply with NICE guidance. CHI will also support and facilitate clinicians to discuss when NICE guidance is and is not followed on an individual patient basis.
	The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection will be the main inspector of NHS services in the future. It will carry out inspection against clear national standards and we expect NICE guidance to be included in those standards.

Broomfield Hospital (Waiting Times)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is at the accident and emergency department at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford; and what the equivalent figure was 12 months ago.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on average waiting times in accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally. Information on the proportion of patients who spend four or fewer hours in a major A and E department from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge has been available each quarter since July 2002.
	Information for Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Quarter Percentage of patients who spent less than four hoursin A and E 
		
		
			 2002–03 2 71 
			 2002–03 3 71 
			 2002–03 4 83 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QMAE
	Information from Essex Strategic Health Authority indicates that the average waiting time in A and E at the trust for June 2003 was two hours and 22 minutes. The figure for June 2002 was three hours and 20 minutes.

Care Home Beds (London)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of care home beds in London.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of care home places in Greater London as at 31 March 2001 was 47,430, an increase of four per cent, over the 1997 figures. This compares to a one per cent, increase for England over the same period. Figures for later years have been collected by the National Care Standards Commission and will be published this autumn.

Carers

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to identify family carers; whether he plans to create a family carers list; and what health, financial and other assistance can be granted to family members who care for relatives.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no proposals either to identify or create a list of family carers.
	As with all carers, family carers are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support. The Carers Grant, worth £100 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks and services for carers to enable them to continue in their caring role. Carers are also entitled to cash payments for carers' services to enable them to purchase the type of support they require and promote a better quality of life.

Delayed Discharges

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the most recent national delayed discharges figures which are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The latest figures on delayed discharge (June 2003), which have been placed in the Library, show that around 4,170 patients of all ages were occupying an acute bed with a delayed transfer at the end of the quarter. This is over 1,300 fewer patients than at the same time the previous year.

Disabled Children (Family Support)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many families with (a) severely disabled children and (b) severely learning disabled children have received family support in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Responsibility for the area now rests with my hon. Friend, the Minister for Children, at the Department for Education and Skills.
	I refer the hon. Member to the response given to him by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Children at the Department for Education and Skills (Margaret Hodge) on Monday 1 September, Official Report, column 716W,

Health Professionals (Suicide)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from suicide were recorded of (a) doctors and (b) nurses in 2002.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 15 September 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning deaths from suicide among (a) doctors and (b) nurses in 2002. I am replying in his absence. (129483)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2001. I refer you to the answer given in the Official Report Volume Number 395 of 4 December 2002, column 910, to Evan Harris MP, which gives the information requested for that year.

Health Protection Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether resources for the Health Protection Agency's civil contingency planning will come from the NHS's general budget.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency's funding for civil contingency planning—like all of its other central funding—is from Section F (central and miscellaneous services) of the Department of Health's "Request for Resources 2 (RfR2)". The national health service's "general budget" is in "Request for Resources 1 (RfRl)".

Health Protection Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether stocks of emergency materiel for the Health Protection Agency will be funded from his Department's overall budget.

Melanie Johnson: It is not a function of the Health Protection Agency to stockpile material for national medical emergencies. Any such material procured centrally by the Department of Health is funded from the resources and moneys voted to it by Parliament in the Central Government Supply Estimates.

Health Protection Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what accounts the Health Protection Agency will be funded.

Melanie Johnson: The Health Protection Agency is funded from the resources and moneys voted to the Department of Health by Parliament in the Central Government Supply Estimates. The relevant part is Section F (central health and miscellaneous services) of Request for Resources 2 (RfR2). The Main Estimates for 2003–04 were approved by Parliament on 6 May 2003.

Health Service (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of the medical assessment unit and the accident and emergency department at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Stephen Ladyman: Worcestershire Royal Hospital is currently engaged in Wave 1 of the NHS Modernisation Agency Emergency Services Collaborative programme. Through this, we would expect the collaborative methodology to review and assess the impact and effectiveness of different parts of the emergency service, including any assessment units they may have.
	In July 2003, the Department of Health published a checklist for assessment units on the emergency care website at www.doh.gov.uk/emergencycare. This provides advice and recommends good operational practice. The type and size of assessment unit provided depends on the exact model of care adopted which should reflect local needs.
	The Department is currently carrying out a voluntary survey of emergency assessment and observation units within acute trusts across England.

Health Service (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for children's health of the reduction in health visiting services in South Worcestershire.

Stephen Ladyman: It is for local organisations to determine the health visiting work force required to deliver local and national health priorities including child health. The proposals which have been put forward by South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust are based upon the commitment to provide a family-centred health visiting service which will work with individuals, families and communities to improve child health and tackle health inequalities.
	The Department of Health is currently funding a range of initiatives to support PCTs in promoting recruitment, retention and return to practice within the primary care nursing and health visiting work force.

Heartburn

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the connection between heartburn and cancer of the gullet.

Stephen Ladyman: Cancer of the oesophagus affects around 6,000 people a year in England and Wales, the majority of whom are aged 40 or over. Common symptoms of the cancer are heartburn and difficulty in swallowing. Most people also lose weight and about half have anaemia, which causes severe tiredness.
	Cancer of the oesophagus or gullet develops as a result of cell changes in the lining of the oesophagus. There are two main types of cancer of the oesophagus: squamous carcinoma, which is more common at the upper end of the gullet; and adenocarcinoma, which is more common at the lower end, particularly around the junction between the gullet and the stomach. There has been a recent increase in the proportion of tumours arising close to the junction of stomach and gullet, but the reasons for this are not yet known.
	We know that cancer patients need to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. This is a very stressful and anxious time for them and they want a diagnosis of their condition as quickly as possible. The Government launched the NHS Cancer Plan on 27 September 2000. This sets out the first ever comprehensive strategy to tackle the disease. It is a major programme of action linking prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and research.
	The Cancer Plan sets out new waiting time targets for cancer treatment. A two-week out-patient waiting time standard was introduced for all urgently referred suspected cancer patients in December 2000 and the most recent figures show that over 98 per cent. of all urgent referrals were seen with two weeks.
	By 2005, all cancer patients will wait a maximum of one month from diagnosis to treatment and a maximum of two months from urgent general practitioner referral to treatment. The Government's ultimate goal is that no patient should wait longer than one month from an urgent referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment, except for a good clinical reason or through personal choice. It is planned to achieve this by 2008.
	However, past decades of under investment mean this goal is not yet within reach. We are making significant extra investment—an extra £570 million a year by 2003–04—the biggest ever single cash investment in cancer equipment, additional doctors and nurses working in new ways and modernisation through the Cancer Services Collaborative, which aims to cut out delays in the patient journey.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have taken place in the number of deaths from MRSA in each of the past nine years; and what changes in the number of deaths he expects to occur in the next three years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Paul Flynn, dated 15 September 2003
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what changes have taken place in the number of deaths from MRSA in each of the past nine years; and what changes in the number of deaths are expected to occur in the next three years. I am replying in his absence. (129237)
	Information on deaths from MRSA is not routinely available but a recent research study published in the British Medical Journal identified the number of death certificates that mentioned MRSA as the underlying cause of death or as a contributory cause for the years 1993–1998. The table below gives figures from the study for these years.
	
		Number of deaths where MRSA was mentioned as the underlying or a contributory cause of death, England and Wales, 1993–98
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1993 47 
			 1994 88 
			 1995 187 
			 1996 290 
			 1997 377 
			 1998 398 
		
	
	The Office for National Statistics is currently in the process of updating this study to cover the period 1999–2002. The results of this analysis will be published next year.
	It is impossible to put a firm figure to the number of people who die from MRSA because people are often very sick with a number of other conditions so the contribution of MRSA to the outcome in any particular case is uncertain. In addition, the underlying cause of death is most often the disease or injury which led them to be admitted to hospital, rather than the MRSA which may have complicated the course of the illness.
	It is not possible to predict what the figures will be for the next three years.

Learning Disability Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net expenditure was on learning disability by the national health service in each year since 1997–98.

Stephen Ladyman: The gross expenditure in the hospital and community health servicesince 1997–98 is shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Expenditure on learning disability 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,324 
			 1998–99 1,365 
			 1999–2000 1,421 
			 2000–01 1,486 
		
	
	It is not possible to exclude charges and receipts from the figures to produce a net expenditure figure. It is also not possible to determine the amount of primary care expenditure that is purely learning disability.

Lymphoedema

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the treatment of lymphoedema sufferers in (a) England and (b) Gloucestershire.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 September 2003
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the use of drugs for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic myeloid leukaemia, but not on non-cancer related lymphoedema.
	NICE has recently updated the "Improving Outcomes in Breast Cancer Guidance", and that guidance made some recommendations about lymphoedema. These include that cancer networks should agree guidelines for identification and management of lymphoedema and that a lymphoedema service, staffed by nurses and physiotherapists who have experience in dealing with this problem, should be available for all patients who experience arm swelling or discomfort.
	In Gloucestershire, lymphoedema patients can access support from their general practitioner practice and community nursing staff. Lymphoedema patients with cancer can also access support from a practice-based dedicated specialist nurse.

Medicines and Health Care Products Agency

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the consultants and their projects being used by the Medicines and Health Care Products Agency. [R]

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 September 2003
	Consultants currently being used by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the projects they are being used on are as follows:
	Accenture—Design and build of IT applications.
	Accenture—General Practice Research Database (GPRD) Accelerator Project.
	Charles Mackenzie—Enhancements to website applications.
	Hay Group—Design of Personal Development and Performance Management System.
	Oxford Group—Delivery of Management and Leadership Training programme.
	RedAnt Design—General Practice Research Database (GPRD) marketing and customer interface.
	TK Consultancy—Design and build of medicines enforcement case investigation system.
	Turner and Townsend—Post-merger co-location project.
	Unipart Advanced Learning systems—enhancements to device adverse incidents tracking system.
	Winton Nightingale—Management of staff restaurant contract.

Medicines and Health Care Products Agency

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to appoint a Chief Executive to the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency. [R]

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 September 2003
	Professor Kent Woods, who has been appointed Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), will take up the appointment on 1 January 2004.

Waiting Lists/Times Trust

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting for inpatient treatment in the Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust area in each of the last three months for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of patients waiting for elective in-patient admission at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust was 8,710 at the end of May 2003, 8,414 at the end of June 2003 and 8,299 at the end of July 2003.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07.

Waiting Lists/Times Trust

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had been waiting 13 weeks or more for an outpatient appointment in the Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust area in the last two available quarters.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of patients still waiting for a first consultant out-patient appointment following general practitioner written referral at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust was 450 at quarter 4 2002–03 and 578 at quarter 1 2003–04.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM80.

NHS Dentistry

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS dental practices there were in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne & Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK (i) in 1980, (ii) in 1990, (iii) in 2000 and (iv) on the latest dates for which figures are available.
	(2)  many dental practices there were in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) UK (i) in 1980, (ii) in 1990, (iii) in 2000 and (iv) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The table gives the requested information for the number of general dental service (GDS) practices. The information is available from 1991. Information is given for 1995, 1996 and 2002 because of the changes in health administration areas.
	No information is available currently on the number of totally private dental practices. The Office of Fair Trading Report, The private dentistry market in the U.K. states that about 210 practices are totally private (para 3.30).
	
		General Dental Service: Number of Ental Practices -- August each year
		
			  1991 1995 1996(39) 2000 2002 2003(40) 
		
		
			 England 8,390 8,269 8,298 8,474 8,497 8,596 
			 Northern Region 1,136 1,099 — — — — 
			 Gateshead 36 35 — — — — 
			 Newcastle 68 61 — — — — 
			 North Tyneside 33 30 — — — — 
			 South Tyneside 23 22 — — — — 
			 Sunderland 35 33 — — — — 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Region — — 2,201 2,176 2,149 — 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside HA — — 58 58 57 — 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside HA — — 89 95 93 — 
			 Sunderland HA — — 33 32 33 — 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA — — — — — 230 
			 Gateshead PCT — — — — — 32 
			 Newcastle PCT — — — — — 61 
			 North Tyneside PCT — — — — — 28 
			 South Tyneside PCT — — — — — 23 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT — — — — — 36 
			 Jarrow Constituency(41) 12(42) 11 12 12 12 11 
		
	
	(39) Following the move from Family Health Service Authority (FHSAs) to Health Authority (HAs) in 1996, results are available by HA rather than by FHSA.
	(40) Following the move from Health Authority (HAs) to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in 2001, results are available by Stategic Health Authority (SHA) and PCT rather than by region and HA.
	(41) Constituency defined by current boundaries
	(42) 1990 figure.
	Source
	Dental Practice Board

Care Standards Act

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on voluntary organisations concerned with the care of the elderly of the registration fee imposed by the Care Standards Act 2000.

Stephen Ladyman: The fees payable by care providers registered under the Care Standards Act were the subject of a wide-ranging public consultation in 2001. As part of the funding arrangements, we expect the costs associated with regulatory fee increases to be passed on by providers through increased fees to service users and commissioners of services. This would mean, for example, that local authorities would pay higher amounts and their financial settlements from central Government reflect this.
	The Government are committed to a review of the framework for regulatory fees in 2004. This review will include a further public consultation.

Prosthetic Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the ability of prosthetic services to meet the needs of users; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts to assess the ability of their prosthetic services to meet the needs of users, as part of their general duty to determine what level of resources to devote to the treatment of different conditions in their localities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for the performance management of primary care trusts.

Prosthetic Services

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to hospitals with regard to skin colour matching in the provision of prosthetic limbs.

Ann Winterton: The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency issues guidance on the availability of products, which enables skin colour matching in the provision of prosthetic limbs. It is for local clinicians and service providers to decide what products to use in individual cases.

Prosthetic Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available for silicone cosmesis for prosthetics users in each of the last three years; how much was made available to each of the prosthetics centres in each of the last three years; how many patients were treated; what plans he has for the future funding of this service; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Baseline allocations of £0.5 million in 2001–02, £1.5 million in 2002–03 and £2.0 million in 2003–04 were expected to be used for the provision of silicone cosmesis for artificial limbs. Spending on silicone cosmesis through the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency, which probably represents most if not all spending on silicone cosmesis, was £81,858 for 2001–02, £410,479 for 2002–03, and £137,502 in the first quarter of 2003–04. Information is not held centrally on the sums made available to individual prosthetics centres, nor on numbers of patients treated with silicone cosmesis. In future years primary care trusts will remain free to determine what amounts from their baseline allocations to use for the provision of silicone cosmesis.

Pulmonary Care

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation services in Gloucestershire.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 11 September 2003
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary and secondary care. It is due to publish the guideline in 2004. In January 2003 the Respiratory Alliance published their guidance, "Bridging the Gap", which aims to help primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission and deliver high quality allergy and respiratory care.
	In line with our policy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is up to PCTs, in conjunction with strategic health authorities (SHAs) to take this work forward. I have been advised by the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA that in Gloucestershire patients with COPD have access to support within the primary care setting and also secondary care services within the wider hospital respiratory team. The local PCTs in Gloucestershire are jointly funding a project post to look at ways in which delivery of the current service can be improved, and to consider the development of future initiatives including COPD rehabilitation.

Redundant/Empty Hospital Buildings

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of maintaining redundant and empty hospital buildings in each region in the last six years.

John Hutton: Information on the cost of redundant and empty properties held by national health service organisations is not held centrally.
	Until these properties are sold they must be maintained both for health and safety reasons and to ensure the best price is obtained for them. Sales of these properties have generated considerable receipts for re-investment in the NHS in recent years, as shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Receipts from sales 160 151

Stroke Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 5 August 2003, Official Report, column 958W, on stroke services, how many and what percentage of hospitals have had a working specialist stroke unit in each (a) region and (b) strategic health authority in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The most comprehensive source of information is the National Sentinel Stroke Audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The audit was commissioned by the national health service in 1998 and was last updated in 2002. The results can be found at http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/strokeaudit 01–02.pdf.
	The 2002 audit shows that 73 per cent. of trusts that participated had a stroke unit, compared to 56 per cent. three years earlier. The audit shows that 80 per cent. of trusts that participated have a consultant physician with specialist knowledge of stroke who is formally recognised as having principal responsibility for stroke services. While it is recognised that some services need to increase their capacity, the audit notes that very significant improvements have already been made.
	Our major vehicle for further improving standards for stroke services is through the older people's national service framework (NSF), which sets specific milestones for improvement by 2004 of stroke services in primary care trusts, specialist services and general hospitals that care for people suffering from a stroke. Our document, "Improvement, Expansion and Reform", which sets for the NHS a priorities and planning framework for 2003–06, makes clear that implementation of the older people's NSF is a top priority and that the 2004 milestone around specialist stroke services is a key target.
	We monitor progress against the key milestones in the NSF. From the information gathered so far, we know that 83 per cent. of the hospitals which have replied now have plans to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.

Tooth Decay

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Department is taking to reduce the number of children with tooth decay.

Rosie Winterton: Due mainly to the introduction of fluoride toothpaste and the fluoridation of water in some areas of the country, there has, over the last 20 years, been a major improvement in oral health. Nearly 60 per cent. of 5-years-olds now have no experience of tooth decay. However, significant variations remain which, in areas where drinking water is not fluoridated, are strongly associated with economic and social deprivation. The Government are committed to reducing these inequalities and have made provision in the Water Bill, currently before Parliament, to give communities with high levels of tooth decay a real option of having their water fluoridated. We have also established the "Brushing for Life" scheme in areas of poor dental health, whereby families with young children receive free fluoridated toothpaste, toothbrushes and advice on oral hygiene when attending child health developmental checks at aged eight months and 18 months and three years.